With construction advancing toward its planned opening in 2025, fresh photographs by StudioSZ document the evolving presence of Snøhetta‘s Shanghai Grand Opera House in the city’s Expo Houtan neighborhood. Designed in collaboration with ECADI, the project introduces a monumental cultural landmark along the Huangpu River, where its spiraling roofline rises in a steady gesture above the waterfront.

The opera house takes shape as a broad, gently rotating form, expressed in layered terraces and sweeping contours that convey a sense of movement anchored in place. At ground level, the structure meets its surroundings through a generous plaza and landscaped edges, drawing visitors toward a continuous, climbable roof that functions as a civic promenade. This rooftop, which will be open throughout the year, establishes a public destination as much as an architectural feature, creating varied vantage points over the river and the city skyline.

images © StudioSZ

snøhetta designs with contextual motifs

The design by Snøhetta references the image of a traditional folding fan, a motif repeated across the project’s interiors and circulation spaces. The architects have described this gesture as evoking the dynamic energy of dance while underscoring a commitment to public ownership. Inside, the composition unfolds in a sequence of overlapping volumes, where lobbies and halls merge with interstitial gathering areas to promote fluid movement among audiences.

Three auditoriums of different capacities are positioned to accommodate a spectrum of performances, ranging from traditional Chinese opera to contemporary experimental productions. The main hall, configured for opera and symphonic work, is complemented by smaller venues for recitals and immersive shows. Warm finishes and measured lighting define the interior palette, supporting an atmosphere that balances clarity with intimacy.

the Shanghai Grand Opera House is nearing completion along the Huangpu River in the Expo Houtan neighborhood

materiality: translucent, smooth and white

Snøhetta’s scope encompasses architecture, landscape, interior, and graphic design, reinforcing coherence across scales throughout the Shanghai Grand Opera Hall. The building envelope combines smooth white surfaces with translucent panels that modulate daylight and reveal activity within. A network of terraces and roof pathways extends the public realm vertically, encouraging engagement beyond the primary performance spaces.

The project incorporates a range of supporting amenities. Libraries, rehearsal studios, restaurants, and small cinemas are distributed through the perimeter, broadening the building’s reach beyond evening performances. Each program element has been configured to share visual connections with the larger circulation system, maintaining the clarity of the fan-shaped plan.

The recent images by StudioSZ emphasize the Opera House’s advancing material finishes and landscape integration. Concrete and glass are layered with precision, and the rooftop paths already convey the spatial openness that will characterize the completed project.

Snøhetta designed the project in partnership with ECADI as a major landmark for Shanghai

the building’s spiraling roofline forms a climbable public promenade overlooking the river and skyline

a folding fan motif shapes the interiors, symbolizing dance and civic openness

three auditoriums support traditional opera, contemporary performances, and smaller recitals

the rooftop terraces and pathways extend public space into the vertical dimension

warm materials and controlled lighting define the atmosphere within the performance halls

project info:

name: Shanghai Grand Opera Hall

architect: Snøhetta | @snohetta

location: Shanghai, China
collaborators: East China Architectural Design & Research Institute (ECADI), Theatre Projects, Nagata Acoustics, schlaich bergermann partner, Meiss Architecture & Engineering Office
area: 146,786 square meters

previous coverage: April 2019, November 2023

photography: © StudioSZ | @studiosz_photo

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Located in the Santa María la Ribera neighborhood of Mexico City, Mariano Azuela 194 is a multi-bay residential complex designed by Bloqe Arquitectura. The project is conceived to align with the area’s architectural heritage and urban character, incorporating a scale and language consistent with the neighborhood’s historical fabric.

The building, composed of four bays and two circulation cores, is designed to relate harmoniously to its urban surroundings, respecting the scale and architectural characteristics of the place. Each tower is crowned with a barrel vault, which not only provides a distinctive character to the design, but also functions as an additional space for the apartments located on the top floor. These vaults create an interesting play of curves on the roof, offering dynamism and character to the complex.

all images by ESPACIOS – Andres Cedillo

Historical references guide the design by Bloqe arquitectura

The facade, high on the ground floor and equipped with canopies, adopts the proportions and architectural language characteristic of the early twentieth century, reflecting the essence of the buildings that abound in the neighborhood. The design by Bloqe arquitectura Studio also includes a commercial space on the ground floor, with the aim of promoting urban life and contributing to the quality of the immediate environment. As for the materials, Mariano Azuela 194 project uses elements of national origin, worked with artisanal techniques. This choice gives rise to a palette of natural colors, which includes natural marbles, earth finishes on the walls, and artisanal partitions, all in tune with the character and richness of traditional Mexican architecture. 

Mariano Azuela 194 integrates into the historic fabric of Santa María la Ribera

the building consists of four bays and two circulation cores

each bay is crowned with a barrel vault, defining the roofline

the project respects the scale and character of its urban surroundings

the curved vaults create spatial variation and add visual rhythm

top-floor apartments benefit from additional space under the vaults

the building adopts a material palette rooted in Mexican tradition

artisanal finishes are used throughout the design

earth-toned wall treatments add warmth and texture

Mariano Azuela 194 contributes a contemporary layer to a heritage-rich neighborhood

an olive green spiral staircase connects the floors

barrel vaults give the building a recognizable silhouette

project info:

name: Mariano Azuela 194
architect: Bloqe arquitectura | @bloqe.arquitectura

location: Mariano Azuela 194, Santa Maria La Ribera, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico

area: 1283 sqm

structural design: Strukto

landscape design: Colectivo MP2 | @colectivomp2

photographer: ESPACIOS – Andres Cedillo | @_andrescedillo

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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Green School Bali opens The Living Bridge, a co-learning space designed by Jonathan Mizzi of Mizzi Studio in collaboration with students, educators, and parents. The project is the result of two years’ work as part of the school’s Jalan Jalan program, which encourages students to take part in real-world, hands-on learning experiences. Together, they transformed the original Bridge, a community hub for parents, into a structure made from over 300 locally harvested bamboo poles, shaped using advanced heat-bending techniques developed with local craftspeople, Bamboo Pure.

The Bridge’s design responds to the indoor-outdoor lifestyle of the school and includes sustainable materials such as terrazzo made from crushed glass, eco-crete bricks using industrial waste ash, lime plaster, and mycelium acoustic panels. The large curved roof shading the building is supported by eight bamboo arches and finished with pelupuh, traditional flattened bamboo shingles. It sits at the entrance of the campus, welcoming students and visitors into a shared space that will host talks, workshops, and parent-led programs.

images by Mizzi Studio, unless stating otherwise

The Living Bridge connects community and creativity

The project began in 2023 when Jonathan Mizzi, also a Green School parent, worked with teachers to guide students aged 15 to 18 through a full design process. From initial sketches and community pitches to workshops, model-making, and on-site construction, students were involved at every stage. ‘The Living Bridge Project shows how architecture can grow out of education,’ says Mizzi, director of the architectural practice Mizzi Studio. ‘What started as a request to mentor one student became a co-created journey where students led the way.’ For many, the experience was transformative. ‘We weren’t just students—we were designers, decision-makers, and changemakers,’ says Eden Rice, one of the student participants.

Before its opening, The Living Bridge was featured at ChangeNOW 2025, a global event for climate solutions held in Paris. Alongside the physical structure, students also created a digital platform to help connect alumni, students, and parents for future collaboration and mentoring.

Green School Bali opens The Living Bridge, a co-learning space designed by Jonathan Mizzi of Mizzi Studio

the large curved roof shading the building is supported by eight bamboo arches

welcoming students and visitors into a shared space

the project is the result of two years’ work as part of the school’s Jalan Jalan program

a structure made from over 300 locally harvested bamboo poles

the poles are shaped using advanced heat-bending techniques

students, educators, and parents collaborated with Mizzi Studio

the Bridge’s design responds to the indoor-outdoor lifestyle of the school

sustainable materials were used to create the project

the roof is finished with pelupuh, traditional flattened bamboo shingles

project info:

name: The Living Bridge
architect: Mizzi Studio | @mizzistudio

location: Bali, Indonesia

lead architect: Jonathan Mizzi
collaborators: Bamboo Pure | @bamboopurebali

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom

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REISARCHITETTURA’s Trullo GR renovation and expansion project of a typical Apulian structure in Puglia, Italy, creates two independent residences for owners and guests. Located in the hills of Fasano, the traditional stone structure is surrounded by 8,000 sqm of olive groves. A pathway bordered by dry stone walls and two monumental oaks leads to a semicircular courtyard, providing access to the residence. The original building, dating back to the early 1900s, consisted of three ‘casedde’ and six ‘trulli,’ structures with sloping and conical roofs, traditionally used as dwellings and tool sheds by local farmers, as well as a flat-roofed section added in the 1960s.

The renovation included demolishing the newer part and replacing it with a perpendicular extension, forming an ‘L’ shape with the existing structure, housing the main residence’s living area, and featuring large windows that open to the garden and pool to the north. The new volume is connected to the existing structure by a recessed glass passage that serves as the main entrance, reducing its visual impact. The sleeping area is in the first two trulli and three ‘casedde’ to the south, with three independent bedrooms. The four trulli to the north house the guest residence, with a living room, kitchen, and two en-suite bedrooms. In the garden and around the pool, there are two gazebos, one large for the owners and a smaller one for guests, along with an outdoor shower and oven.

all images by Alessandra Bello

REISARCHITETTURA’s renovation respects Apulian tradition

The designers at REISARCHITETTURA opted for materials and finishes that respect Apulian tradition, with contemporary details. Minimal interventions were made on the existing structure: the stone walls were cleaned, sealed, and, where necessary, supplemented, while the exterior was repainted with white lime, and the interior plaster was restored. The new volume, made of exposed tuff stone, is also whitewashed for continuity. The original flooring in the first two trulli was preserved, while in other rooms, where more recent flooring was present, it was replaced with smooth, minimal concrete, as in the new extension. The external windows and interior doors are made of natural oak, and the outdoor flooring includes local stone, washed concrete for the perimeter walkway, and wooden decking around the pool, comfortable for walking barefoot.

The focus on traditional materials is combined with sustainability and energy efficiency. Climate control is provided by a heat pump powered by solar panels installed above the new extension, while a cistern beneath the external flooring collects rainwater for reuse. The lighting is LED-based for low consumption and long life, and a smart home system allows remote control of installations, optimizing energy use and comfort. Finally, an integrated sound and outdoor lighting system enhances the poolside atmosphere.

Trullo GR sits in the hills of Fasano, surrounded by 8,000 sqm of olive groves

a dry stone path flanked by oaks leads to a semicircular courtyard entrance

the new volume houses the main living area and opens northward to the garden and pool

the original structure includes three casedde and six trulli from the early 1900s

outdoor finishes include local stone, washed concrete, and wooden decking

minimal intervention preserved and restored original stonework

a recessed glass passage connects the new and historic structures

the new extension is built from exposed, whitewashed tuff stone

project info:

name: Trullo GR
architect: REISARCHITETTURA | @reisarchitettura

lead architects: Nicola Isetta, Paola Rebellato

location: Puglia, Italy

photographer: Alessandra Bello | @ab_alessandrabello_fotografia

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The Ridge, a timber prototype by Olivier Ottevaere and University of Hong Kong students, explores how the natural environment and its physical forces can invigorate the interior living through its dynamic roof design. Sited in the high mountains of rural Yunnan, China, the project makes full use of its sloped terrain and expansive vistas to delineate a varied timber structure mainly comprising eleven evolving trusses. The house spans one to three levels, with the roofscape’s gradual transformation most dramatically expressed through the pronounced ceiling plane experienced from within. The design is carefully tuned to its cardinal orientations. Each facade differs in shape and size to capture the unique natural sunlight specific to its direction, energizing the interior spaces, living areas below, and sleeping quarters above, throughout the day’s progression.

all images courtesy of The University of Hong Kong

Ridge doubles as a farmhouse and a community gathering space

Beyond its residential function, the farmhouse also serves as a community center where local villagers gather socially and, as seasons go by, deliberate on crop selections, farming distribution to enhance their collective agricultural production, and local economy. The Ridge project originated as an educational program in design and construction, led by designer Olivier Ottevaere. The taught hands-on course exposes students to the physical act of making architecture through on-site construction experience at a scale impossible in the classroom, one that they can inhabit while building. Working alongside local carpenters and construction workers, students embark on a building journey that addresses a real site, a critical program, and a unique local culture through knowledge exchange and experiential learning.

roofline opens up to the expansive landscape while providing shade to the outdoor terrace

a dynamic roofscape defines the building’s spatial character

the house spans between one and three levels across sloped terrain

each facade is tuned to capture light from a different direction

timber prototype ‘The Ridge’ sits in the high mountains of rural Yunnan, China

The Ridge doubles as a farmhouse and a community gathering space

eleven evolving timber trusses form the structure’s core

interior ceilings reveal the roof’s gradual transformation

local villagers use the space to plan agricultural activities

‘The Ridge’ project blends architectural learning with cultural exchange

sunlight animates the living spaces throughout the day

sleeping quarters are positioned above, oriented for light and view

the bedroom mezzanine opens towards the double-height living space

students gained hands-on experience in full-scale construction

the team collaborated closely with local carpenters and builders

project info:

name: The Ridge – Roofing in Motion.
architects: Olivier Ottevaere – The University of Hong Kong, the Human Intelligence Master program of Architecture, HKU | @hkuarchitecture

local contractor: Chengdu Xingcun Construction Engineering Co., Ltd. (成都行村建筑工程有限公司)

area: 240 sqm

location: Yiliang, Zhaotong, Yunnan Province, China

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Set within a volcanic expanse in southern Iceland, a recent project by Sp(r)int Studio brings a nuanced response to the Stöng ruins, one of the country’s most significant archaeological sites. Excavated in 1939 and protected since 1957 by a modest shelter, the Viking-era longhouse in scenic Þjórsárdalur stands as a rare and remarkably complete remnant of early Icelandic domestic architecture. The restoration builds upon this legacy, extending the site’s function and form and remaining attentive to the surrounding terrain.

The new intervention introduces a spatial framework that protects the ruins without enclosing them. The studio preserves the original 1957 structure, cladding it in untreated larch that will weather naturally with the climate. A translucent roof of polycarbonate floats above the exposed ruins, diffusing light across the excavated stonework and dissolving the boundary between interior and exterior. The result is a structure that shelters without overpowering, prioritizing legibility and atmosphere over monumentality.

images © Claudio Parada Nunes

adapting to iceland’s volcanic Topography

The site geography of the Stöng ruins informs Sp(r)int Studio’s intervention. Rather than imposing a singular gesture, the architects design the structure to unfold across the valley floor, adapting to changes in elevation and framing natural contours. Carefully laid paths, a footbridge, and a new entry platform stitch together the disparate elements of the site, subtly choreographing the visitor’s experience while limiting physical intrusion on the landscape.

From the raised entrance, visitors are led onto a viewing platform that hovers above the longhouse remains. This shift in elevation positions the ruins in their full spatial context, granting clarity without encouraging contact. The intervention privileges alignment between visitor and view, and between architecture and terrain.

the Stöng ruins sit within a volcanic valley of southern Iceland

Light, Material, and Permeability

With its Stöng ruins shelter, Sp(r)int Studio’s design language remains sparse and deliberate. Larch cladding and polycarbonate are joined by concrete footings and steel connectors, each expressed with care and intention. The structure allows air to pass through and light to shift across the surfaces, sustaining the atmospheric conditions that have shaped the ruin for centuries. Glazed apertures and roof openings are positioned to capture views of specific artifacts and architectural traces, offering points of orientation and pause.

By emphasizing porosity and restraint, Sp(r)int Studio brings a sense of continuity between the original dwelling, the previous shelter, and the new construction. Nothing is obscured. Instead, the layers of intervention remain legible, forming a cumulative archive of preservation efforts across time.

a translucent polycarbonate roof hovers above the Viking-era longhouse remains

The renovation treats the 1957 shelter as an artifact worth conserving in its own right. Rather than replacing this earlier structure, Sp(r)int Studio extends its relevance by adapting it. In this way, the project foregrounds preservation as a living process which is neither finished nor frozen. Each design move seeks to extend the life of the site, resisting erasure in favor of architectural continuity.

This approach to heritage architecture emphasizes adaptability and engagement over interpretation. The architecture leaves room for temporal shifts and environmental variation, rather than imposing a fixed narrative. This way, the project becomes an open framework through which the past can be accessed without being finalized.

Sp(r)int Studio preserves the original 1957 shelter and re-clads it in untreated larch

elevated walkways and platforms guide visitors while protecting the excavation

interior spaces remain permeable to light and air, preserving atmospheric continuity

framed apertures direct views toward key archaeological details in the ruins

the shelter’s design by Sp(r)int Studio emphasizes restraint and continuity

project info:

name: Stöng Ruins

architect: Sp(r)int Studio

location: Iceland

area: 385 square meters

completion: 2024

photography: © Claudio Parada Nunes | @studiocapn

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On the former site of Gorami Village, now called Goam-dong in Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do, architect Youngbae Kim of DRAWING WORKS renovates a 50-year-old farmhouse as Gorami House. Embracing the irregularity of the original timber structure, Kim transforms the aging home with subtle spatial recalibrations and a new undulating roofline that echoes the mountain ridges behind the site. The project respectfully layers material, memory, and light to preserve a deeply personal relationship to the space.

all images ©Yoon, Joonhwan

plywood and white walls finish Gorami House

Instead of erasing the past, Youngbae Kim, founder of Korean architecture studio DRAWING WORKS, amplifies it by framing, preserving, and, in some cases, patching crooked pine rafters, thick layers of daub, slanted mud walls, and mismatched construction methods with discreet interventions. The architect opts for a traditional L layout in the main building. One of the three rooms became part of a new living area, and the kitchen was reorganized into a linear arrangement, retaining existing rafters beneath newly insulated ceilings. Smooth white walls and plywood finishes enhance spatial clarity.

The original property — composed of a main house and adjacent servants’ quarters arranged around a yard—had belonged to the family for decades. When the current owners, a couple who lived in a Bundang apartment, returned to care for an elderly parent and tend an 8,250-square-meter plot of land, they chose not to demolish the house but to restore it. The design began with a conversation over sweet potatoes and omija tea in the winter sun, in a meeting of generations that set the tone for what would follow.

architect Youngbae Kim of DRAWING WORKS renovates a 50-year-old farmhouse

original elements reused for landscaping

The adjacent linear arrangement of servants’ quarters — now used as a guesthouse—was treated as a facade to the street, providing privacy while preserving their function as a threshold to the yard. Despite the changes, DRAWING WORKS maintains original elements like the timber doors and flat foundation stones and reuses them as landscape elements. A metal-framed ceiling flows like a wave between old beams, while the new roof, clad in natural slate, ties the two volumes together, its form echoing the slope of the nearby mountains.

Gorami House aims to demonstrate how structure, memory, and material can be composed like a folk song—simple, layered, and full of texture. What began as a disorderly farmhouse is now a grounded living environment that celebrates the site’s deep familial history.

embracing the irregularity of the original timber structure

a new undulating roofline that echoes the mountain ridges behind the site

the project respectfully layers material, memory, and light

preserving a deeply personal relationship to the space

DRAWING WORKS frames, preserves, and, in some cases, patches original elements

the architect opts for a traditional L layout in the main building

smooth white walls and plywood finishes enhance spatial clarity

DRAWING WORKS maintains original elements like the timber doors and flat foundation stones

the new roof, clad in natural slate, ties the two volumes together

what began as a disorderly farmhouse is now a grounded living environment

project info:

name: Gorami House
architect: DRAWING WORKS | @drawingworks_architects

location: 93-1 Goam-dong, Jecheon-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea

area: 105 square meters

principal architect: Youngbae Kim
photographer: ©Yoon, Joonhwan | @yoon_joonhwan

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom

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Nestled in the forested hills of Karuizawa, Japan, The Cone by Kamiya Architects redefines the boundary between structure and nature through an inverted-conical roof that blends into its sloped terrain. Designed as a timeshare villa—straddling the line between a private residence and a boutique hotel—the project sits on a steep 3,000 sqm plot, responding to both topography and forest with fluidity. From above, the building presents as a sweeping arc that responds directly to the site. The gently curving plan mirrors the slope of the land, and the uniform, dark roof surface forms a powerful inverted conical shape, tapering inward toward a central point and culminating in a subtle protruding chimney.

images courtesy of Kamiya Architects

KAMIYA ARCHITECTS BALANCE ENGINEERING WITH ATMOSPHERE

Though legally a wooden structure, The Cone employs steel-reinforced beams to achieve a generous 15-by-12 meter span in the main living area, eliminating the need for bulky wooden columns. Instead, slim iron columns discreetly support the architecture, allowing for panoramic openings that blur the division between interior and landscape. By minimizing structural expression, Kamiya Architects emphasize spatial experience over tectonic display, allowing the architectural presence to feel quietly powerful.

Inside, the inverted cone becomes a luminous volume. The white-painted ceiling acts as a gentle reflector, amplifying daylight and diffusing indirect lighting at night. The result is a soft, ambient glow that enhances the cone’s concave geometry, creating an atmosphere that is both introspective and expansive. The Japanese architects use this reflective ceiling to transform the structure into a sensory landscape, where light and form heighten the emotional resonance of the space.

from above, the building presents as a sweeping arc

A CHOREOGRAPHY OF SPACE AND STONE

A curved central corridor arcs through the building like a hidden spine. Its full extent never immediately visible, the corridor evokes a sense of mystery. Radiating from it are variously scaled rooms that engage with the forest in different ways—sometimes framing, sometimes opening fully to the surrounding trees. At the heart of the communal living area sits a three-ton boulder, found in the nearby mountains and repurposed as a fireplace. This uncut, unshaped stone introduces an element of natural randomness that defies human authorship, grounding the otherwise controlled architecture.

the gently curving plan mirrors the slope of the land

the structure serves both as a private residence and a boutique hotel

the uniform, dark roof surface forms a powerful inverted conical shape

the project sits on a steep 3,000 sqm plot

the design responds to both topography and forest with fluidity

a subtle protruding chimney completes the roof design

the structure opens to panoramic views of the surrounding forest

inside, the inverted cone becomes a luminous volume

the white-painted ceiling acts as a gentle reflector

at the heart of the communal living area sits a three-ton boulder

the boulder serves as a symbolic anchor within the space

project info: 

name: The Cone
architects: Kamiya Architects | @kamiya__architects
location: Karuizawa, Japan

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The design of Habitat 0 by RA Design Studio begins with a simple circle. Sited in India, among a neighborhood of vacation homes is organized radially around a central courtyard, the community hub draws energy from its continuous shape. Rather than imposing direction, the circle allows the space to unfold gradually, offering each dwelling generous access to the surrounding landscape. This orientation fosters a subtle rhythm, one that moves between privacy and exposure without interruption.

A central, terraced amphitheater moves between function and gesture. It is at once a gathering space and an architectural hinge for both passage and pause. The steps rise to meet a garden rooftop and double as seating, observation point, and informal meeting ground. The architecture engages gently with the land, inviting movement through shared space without requiring a prescribed use.

images © Vinay Panjwani

RA Design Studio’s Dual-Skin Envelope

The defining form of Habitat 0, conceived by the architects at RA Design Studio, emerges through its layered skin. An outer shell of arches shields the structure, carving shadows that animate the interiors throughout the day. These shadows sometimes echo natural forms, casting curves that appear momentary and alive. Inside, a transparent glass wall maintains openness, drawing light into the homes while sustaining a visual dialogue with the gardens beyond.

The community center carries a deliberate continuity between architecture and landscape. The route from exterior garden to inner courtyard and eventually to the roof garden reflects a sequence that never breaks from its natural surroundings. RA Design Studio reinforces this relationship through an alignment of pathways, views, and transitions that celebrate the landscape and feel inherently grounded in place.

A semi-sheltered pool anchors one side of the building. Designed as part of the building’s circular plan, the space slips partially into shade beneath the curving roof. Light enters through roof cutouts, animated by the movement of water. Sloped walls around the pool guide the eye and the body into this carved retreat, which remains both secluded and open to the sky.

RA Design Studio’s Habitat 0 is organized around a circular courtyard that connects each unit to nature

habitat 0 draws from its community

RA Design Studio curates the materiality of its Habitat 0 to demonstrate a commitment to its context. The architects sourced local materials and engaged nearby artisans to realize the project, noting that the construction process embeds the community in its environment both economically and culturally. The stone, concrete, and timber used in the project speak to their origin, anchoring the homes to the landscape with both familiarity and durability.

The smaller gestures throughout Habitat 0 amplify the whole. RA Design Studio treats each surface as an opportunity for interaction between shadow and light. Arches project patterns on walls and floors, while frameless glass panels dissolve the boundaries between inside and out. Openings above the amphitheater and pool draw in the sky. At night, lighting is restrained and intentional, giving weight to stillness and reflection.

the central amphitheater serves as both a gathering space and a circulation path

arched outer walls provide shade and texture while the inner glass skin allows transparency and light

paths through gardens, courtyards, and terraces maintain a fluid transition between indoors and outdoors

the semi-sheltered pool is lit by cutouts in the roof and framed by sloping walls

shadows from the arches and skylights animate the interiors and change throughout the day

local materials and regional craftsmanship ground the project in its setting

project info:

name: Habitat 0 Community Hub

architect: RA Design Studio | @radesign_ahmedabad

location: India

lead architect: Radhika savani Dutt
landscape design: Arpit Dutt

area: 855 square meters
completion: 2024
photography: © Vinay Panjwani | @panjwani.vinay

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Beijing and Rotterdam-based architecture studio MAT Office takes to a rural community outside Chengdu to design a temporary bookstore dubbed the Pyramid Book House. The project’s site on the edge of Wanchun Town sees rows of agricultural fields yield to the city’s spreading suburbs. Standing within a greenbelt along Tuanjiequ Road, the book house settles into this setting, shaped by the rhythms of its context and a belief in quiet transformation. MAT Office brings a clear sensitivity to site, allowing architecture to emerge from what the place invites, rather than what a program demands.

The architecture adopts a composition of three steeply sloped geometries, each assigned a different purpose — reading, display, and leisure. These forms resemble simple pyramids, pitched high enough to catch sunlight through carefully positioned skylights. Each structure is linked by a transparent roof, forming a sheltered corridor that opens both visually and atmospherically to its surroundings. The project takes its name from these volumes, but the real architecture lies in the way they modulate light and define space

images © Arch-Exist

mat office draws from rural chinese vernacular

The Pyramid Book House by MAT Office uses humble, local materials in a deliberate expression of place. Wooden tiles line the exterior, creating a tactile surface that connects with the vernacular textures of the Chengdu Plain. Pine plywood defines both the walls and ceiling inside, where the same surfaces that support the structure also shape the spatial experience. The wood-framed structure reveals itself without disguise, allowing each joint and surface to participate in both the building’s appearance and its function.

The architects design with a focus on economy, and this constraint is handled as a design strategy rather than a compromise. Construction avoids complexity where simplicity will do. Columns and beams are expressed as straightforward wooden members, placed with care rather than ornament. The structural frame is exposed, but it doesn’t strive for austerity. Instead, it feels open and generous, defined by clarity rather than minimalism.

the Pyramid Book House by MAT Office is located in a greenbelt on the rural edge of Chengdu

a glowing lantern

MAT Office’s Pyramid Book House is part of a larger initiative that aims to embed reading spaces into the daily life of Chengdu’s outer communities. Here, the architecture acts as a gentle interrupter, a pause in the ordinary. Its small scale creates intimacy, while its form stands out just enough to arouse curiosity. Within weeks of completion, it became a gathering point. Locals stopped to peer inside, then lingered, then returned. A new ritual took hold — reading in the sunlight, and lounging on the grass.

As daylight fades, the building’s skylights dim and its interior lighting begins to glow. From the road, it looks like a warm flicker in the agricultural fields, a gentle presence offering something intangible. Though its footprint is small, its radiance extends. Architecture becomes hospitality, and the book house becomes a place where people stay longer than they planned.

its three pyramid-shaped volumes define spaces for reading display and leisure

wooden tiles and pine plywood reflect the traditional materials of the Chengdu Plain

the project emphasizes low-cost construction with exposed wooden structural elements

the building uses skylights and glass connectors to create a bright and open interior

it has become a social hub for both residents and visitors from nearby towns

though temporary, the Pyramid Book House encourages lasting cultural engagement

project info:

name: Pyramid Book House

architect: MAT Office | @matoffice.architects

location: Chengdu, China

area: 78 square meters

completion: 2023

photography: © Arch-Exist | @archexist

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