Gèngjin's Veil Tower: A Sustainable Bamboo and Fabric Installation in China
In the heart of Xianning, Hubei, China, within a verdant moso bamboo grove, gèngjin Architecture Office has unveiled the Veil Tower. This ephemeral structure masterfully combines a simple bamboo framework with a hanging black fabric shell. The project exemplifies innovative, low-impact construction practices, highlighting techniques for reversible assembly and the profound connection between human interaction and the natural world. Drawing inspiration from the ancient Chu ritual architecture's centripetal design principles, the pavilion redefines a forest opening, offering a space where perspectives are deliberately framed, light is softly diffused, and sensory perception is artfully managed.
Situated amidst the bamboo-rich landscapes surrounding the ANNSO Hotel in southern Hubei, the pavilion’s design is a direct response to the area’s challenging topography, abundant vegetation, and the characteristic vertical growth of bamboo. Rather than inserting an alien architectural element, the intervention seamlessly integrates with the existing grove, utilizing locally sourced raw bamboo as both a foundational material and a tribute to its surroundings. Created by gèngjin Architecture Office on a modest budget, the project adopted a hands-on, low-tech construction approach, benefiting from the invaluable assistance of local volunteers. The structure beautifully illustrates how unprocessed bamboo can be transformed into a provisional architectural form through straightforward, deconstructible methods, all while deeply rooting itself in the ecological and cultural heritage of the region.
The pavilion’s core design revolves around fifteen bamboo frames, forming a pentadecagonal layout. Reflecting the concept of revealing bamboo's 'inner essence,' the structure pairs a robust skeletal system with a suspended black cotton-linen membrane that encloses the interior. Each raw bamboo pole, approximately 60 mm in diameter, is reinforced by diagonal supports secured with bolted connections. Beam intersections are fastened using traditional cross-lashed hemp rope, allowing for adaptability to the material’s natural irregularities and future adjustments. The entirely demountable nature of every joint ensures the construction is fully reversible. Fifteen fabric panels, draped from the bamboo frame, create a continuous enclosure. This black cotton-linen material gently disperses natural light, allowing roughly sixty percent light transmission, which results in subtle light variations beneath the bamboo canopy. The fabric's vertical folds, shaped by gravity, contrast elegantly with the rigid structural frame. The strategic gaps between the fabric panels and bamboo poles serve a functional purpose, facilitating airflow through the enclosure to reduce wind pressure and impart a graceful motion to the suspended surface.
A precise white line, fashioned from medical cotton tape, encircles each bamboo culm at a uniform elevation. This line, rather than indicating an absolute height, subtly reveals the terrain’s shifting contours as it follows the undulating landscape. The lower edge of the suspended veil aligns perfectly with this horizontal marker, creating the illusion of a dark mass floating above the ground. Positioned 1.6 meters above the terrain, the fabric intentionally restricts the horizontal line of sight for most visitors. Entry necessitates a slight duck beneath the suspended membrane, after which the enclosure directs one’s gaze upwards through the pentadecagonal aperture, framing the sky, passing clouds, and the swaying bamboo canopy above. The surrounding bamboo grove is largely obscured from within, enhancing the focused aerial view.
As a transient installation, the Veil Tower is designed to leave no lasting footprint on its site. All its structural components are made for easy disassembly, ensuring that every bamboo element, rope connection, and fabric panel can be either repurposed or recycled. This project exemplifies how minimalist construction, the thoughtful use of local resources, and reconfigurable assembly methods can craft a unique spatial encounter that is deeply interwoven with its environmental and cultural context, offering a harmonious blend of innovation and respect for nature.