This bird observatory is a micro-level architectural
intervention as a part of rural region revival plan as Songyang became a
popular destination of tourism. The project is chosen to locate next to a wetland
as a migration stop for birds, and next to a farmland which was owned by local
village community. It is not only a space for research purpose, but also an
education center for students, a resting area for tourists, and, most
importantly, a community centre for rural residents.
The bamboo grove is a green wall cutting this site into two
distinguish parts. Accordingly, only two facades are shown in this project,
which connect farmland and wetland with different perspectives. The one facing
farmland, a place where people live, becomes a house with bamboo grove as its
back drop. A split gap in the middle calls for mysterious imagination towards
the other side. The other one facing wetland, a place where birds stay, becomes
a nest hidden in-between lush vegetation, to minimize human activities inside.
Architects work with local craftsmen, using bamboo and materials
on site as the formwork to cast concrete structure. The natural texture and raw
concrete surface produce a dynamic appearance, while we consider light as an
additional material to allow this building to grow and to change.