Chinese studio DoDesign has unveiled Drifting Stones, a dramatic glass pavilion perched in the rocky hills of Chongqing’s Nanchuan District. Surrounded by dense forest, mountain ridges, and a small stream, the structure rests quietly beneath a layered, stone-like roof that conceals a panoramic viewpoint.
The concept began when the design team discovered a naturally flat-topped boulder at the site. This moment sparked a spontaneous idea that evolved into a design meant to immerse visitors in the landscape.
“The design was not pre-planned but emerged from a spontaneous connection with a specific site feature,” said Zhengmeng Dong, partner at DoDesign. “This intuitive, responsive process set the tone for the entire project.”
Stone Illusion and Glass Contrast
The roof consists of stacked cement slabs, each formed over steel frames. Local artisans then hand-chiselled the surfaces, using cement mixed with regional stone powder to mimic the surrounding geology. This approach allowed the structure to echo the rocky character of the valley while introducing human craftsmanship.
Beneath the roof, a fully glazed reception area serves as a quiet resting space. Inside, visitors encounter mirrored walls, black wood furniture, and leather seating—offering a contemporary contrast to the rustic exterior.
“Encased in glass and surrounded by mirrored surfaces, the pavilion creates the illusion of a rock hovering in space,” Dong explained. “This poetic gesture merges the architectural and natural into one experience.”
The materials were chosen deliberately. Steel and glass bring a sense of lightness and surreal reflection. In contrast, the hand-crafted cement roof grounds the structure in the local terrain.
Sculptural Details and Subtle Layers
A stepped pathway, aptly named The Stacks, leads uphill to The Hut—a small mirrored bathroom structure topped with a similar faux-stone canopy. A circular skylight pierces the roof, directing natural light into the compact space.
Adjacent to The Hut, an outdoor washbasin rests on a mirrored plinth. A slender metal tap, shaped like a dripping branch, descends from the canopy above.
“The wash basin sits beneath the suspended stone in a semi-outdoor space,” Dong said. “The skylight channels daylight onto the platform below, echoing the idea that dripping water wears away stone.”
Merging Architecture and Emotion
Throughout the project, DoDesign balanced physical form with sensory experience. While rooted in architectural precision, the pavilion invites emotional engagement with the site’s natural energy.
The design avoids spectacle. Instead, it uses contrast—between heaviness and transparency, old and new, rough and smooth—to frame a quiet moment in the valley.
Other recent pavilions in China include Mur Mur Lab’s wave-topped glass structures in Zhejiang, which also aim to evoke the emotional power of natural settings through reflective and sculptural forms.