Dali Erhai Lake Ecological Rest Station, The construction project of the Erhai Lake Ecological Corridor in Dali aims to establish a healthy water-land buffer zone and ecological barrier. Along the 129-kilometer lakeside corridor, multiple service stations are planned, and the project is one of them. The site is located along the southwest edge of the Erhai Lake scenic corridor, near Xiaoyizhuang Village. In the face of the pristine surroundings of Cangshan Mountain, Erhai Lake, and the quaint villages, the design aims to intervene using a landscape architecture approach minimally. It responds to the relationship between the building and the land through “anchoring and suspension,” engaging with the environment. Additionally, it addresses the relationship between locality and contemporary construction through “low-tech and low-carbon,” fostering innovative experiences. Lastly, it responds to the relationship between public architecture and people through “openness and inclusivity,” creating a platform for daily activities.
© Ce Wang
Anchoring and Suspension: A Responsive New Topography. In response to the dual orientation of avoiding trees, connecting roads, facing Cangshan to the back, and overlooking Erhai to the front, the building unfolds from south to north, starting from a crack in the landscape, gradually rising, and creating a platform for panoramic views and a shelter for brief stays. Climate considerations are another crucial aspect of the design. Beyond the functional areas like bathrooms and a small shop, the design aims to release the space under the roof as much as possible, facilitating complete air circulation and introducing scenic views, creating a sense of free permeation between the interior and exterior with a breath-like quality.
© Ce Wang
Low-tech and Low-carbon: Local Construction Strategy. Regarding material strategy, we integrate our perception of the local landscape to extract key material features. We have chosen three main materials, namely rubble stone, concrete, and wood, for contemporary expression. By adopting a series of measures, we achieve low-carbon sustainability in construction activities.
© Ce Wang
The folded plate roof, after parametric structural calculations, achieves a large-span cantilever. The color of exposed concrete and the texture of the wood panels are precisely controlled through experimental simulations and on-site mock-ups. During construction, a one-time casting of the box-type structural spatial system is combined with an upturned beam method. This involves a secondary casting of the roof structure to ensure the load-bearing capacity of the roof edge overhang and waterproofing for the upper roof.
© Ce Wang
The wall base uses locally sourced limestone, abundant in Dali, and is constructed with a combination of particle sizes ranging from 150-450mm. The roof drainage system utilizes UHPC roof panels. By employing landscape supports, sufficient water runoff space is retained, guiding rainwater to nearby culverts after finding the slope.
© Ce Wang
The doors and windows are crafted from solid oak, known for its durability and high hardness. The bathroom door features a solid wood dwarf door, and the high windows are equipped with wooden louvers, balancing natural ventilation with privacy in the toilet. The waste steel bars and steel plates left at the construction site, after secondary processing, are used as railings, stair steps, flower grooves, and other components, so that they become part of the building life and grow again.
© Ce Wang
Openness and Inclusivity: Everyday Public Life. Dali has become a destination for numerous digital nomads and travelers in the post-pandemic era. As a daily retreat, the station is not only an observation platform and rest stop but also a platform for urban public life. The building opens itself to everyone with a simple and inclusive design. Enriched with various activities, this station, attempting to integrate into the natural landscape, is gradually evolving into a captivating “living landscape.”
Project Info
Architects: line+ studio
Country: China, Dali
Area: 150 m²
Year: 2022
Photographs: Ce Wang
Chief Architect/Project Principal: Fanhao Meng
Project Architects: Hao Xu, Yaliang He
Intern: Yifan Xu, Jinyue Zhang, Sitao Fang, Nijun Lin, Qizheng Yu, Ziyang Qiao, Jun Zhu, Yukuan He, Hao Deng
Landscape: Shangyang Li, Jianbo Jin, Wenjie Zhang
Structural Design Design Team: Jin Wang, Shenglin Yuan, Jiayi Hu, Yanning Jiang, Bo Liu
Mep Design Design Team: Wei Liu, Yanping Chen, Shaohua Jiang, Xilin Pan
Construction Drawing Collaborator: Dali Bai Nationality Autonomous Prefecture Urban and Rural Planning and Design Institute
Concrete Construction Contractor: Manoel Clearwater Concrete
Interior Construction Contractor: Suzhou Golden Mantis Building Decoration Co., Ltd.
Client: Dali Cang’er Investment Co., Ltd.
Design Period: 2020/07 – 2021/07
Structure: Concrete Structure
Madeline Brooks is a Projects Editor at Arch2O, where she has been shaping and refining architectural content since March 2024. With over a decade of experience in editorial work, she has curated, revised, and published an array of projects covering architecture, urbanism, and public space design. A graduate of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Madeline brings a strong academic foundation and a discerning editorial eye to each piece she oversees. Since joining Arch2O, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the platform’s editorial direction, with a focus on sustainability, social relevance, and cutting-edge design. Madeline excels at translating complex architectural ideas into clear, engaging stories that resonate with both industry professionals and general readers. She works closely with architects, designers, and global contributors to ensure every project is presented with clarity, depth, and compelling visual narrative. Her editorial leadership continues to elevate Arch2O’s role in global architectural dialogue.