Wetland Caves Pavilion, Zhejiang province building

Wetland Caves Pavilion in Zhejiang province

23 July 2026

Architectural & Interior Design Consultant: Studio 10

Location: Longyou, Quzhou, Zhejiang, China

photo © Chao Zhang

Photos: Chao Zhang and Guowei Liu

The Wetland Caves Pavilion is located along the shoreline of Chuanchang Island in Xiaonanhu Town, Longyou County, Quzhou City. The unique wetland terrain surrounding the site has been shaped by long-term erosion and sedimentation from the Qu River, nurturing a rich ecosystem of plants and animals. The extensive mudflat meadows along the shoreline offer diverse conditions for experiencing the natural wetland landscape and ecological environment. Scattered across the shore are ancient cave sites, where man-made structures blend organically with nature, exuding a sense of history and mystery.

photo © Guowei Liu

The campsite is situated on Chuanchang Island in Longyou County. The Qu River has carved out a distinctive wetland environment around the island, fostering a rich variety of flora and fauna. The island’s dense forest and extensive shoreline meadows offer diverse sites for camping. The project aims to bridge the boundary between design creation and nature conservation, addressing the needs and visions of both visitors and island residents.

photo © Guowei Liu

Serving as a buffer zone between the river and the island, the site floods annually during the rainy season, with water levels receding to reveal sediment that reshapes the terrain until vegetation reclaims the land, forming new wetland meadows. This cycle of change showcases the elegance, rigor, and poetry of natural laws, captivating those who witness it. Throughout this process, the wetland supports a diverse ecosystem, with dense vegetation and wildlife, including both wild and domesticated birds and animals that forage, play, and rest here.

photo © Chao Zhang

In this project, we explore the boundaries between water and soil, as well as the subtle interactions between natural systems and architecture.

photo © Chao Zhang

In this ambiguous zone between water and land, where boundaries constantly shift, we have designed an abstract artificial cave to provide shelter for animals, a place for villagers to rest and access water, and a space for visitors and campers to observe and experience the wetlands.

photos © Chao Zhang

The vertical structure of the abstract artificial cave is formed by a series of scattered concrete pillars inspired by ancient cave columns and wetland waterholes. This approach anchors the structure to the dynamic wetland landscape with minimal intervention.

photo © Chao Zhang

Some of the concrete pillars are hollowed out to house functions such as trash collection, water supply, birdhouses, and observation points. These “voids” expand freely inside the pillars, sometimes penetrating the thick concrete walls to create skylights, side windows, and openings for natural ventilation, lighting, and scenic views.

photo © Guowei Liu

The concrete pillars support prefabricated light steel bamboo roofs, with the modular bamboo grid system inspired by local handmade bamboo crafts. The bamboo is sourced from nearby forests. Planters are concealed at the top of the concrete pillars, allowing low-maintenance native climbing plants to grow along the bamboo grid, providing shade and integrating the structure into the lush wetland environment.

photo © Guowei Liu

The nearby ancient cave sites feature surfaces shaped by both manual excavation and natural weathering, creating unique textures. The custom materials and colors of the pavilion’s concrete structure respond to these textures, recording and highlighting the delicate interaction between natural and human-made environments.

photo © Chao Zhang

Visitors can experience the dynamic balance of water, soil, flora, fauna, and cultural heritage in the wetlands, resulting in a space that balances human-made and natural elements, while providing a public area for rest, interaction, and observation.

photo © Chao Zhang

Wetland Caves Pavilion in Zhejiang province, China – Building Information

Architectural & Interior Design Consultant: Studio 10 – https://www.oma.com/

Location: Longyou, Quzhou, Zhejiang, China
Status: Completed Nov, 2023
GFA: 85sqm
Principal-in-charge: Shi Zhou
Design Team: Jingqi Qiu, Liuqing Liu, Jiaxiao Bao (Project Assistant), Yu Cai, Mengqi Zhang, Ruiyu Zhang, Jingwei Zhang, Jiaying Huang, Bin Tang(Intern), Zewei Feng(Intern), Chunyu Li(Intern)
Client: Longyou County People’s Government
Organizers: Longyou Hu Construction and Management Center, Longyou County Transportation Investment Group Co., Ltd.

Co-organizers: China Academy of Urban Planning & Design, Shanghai Fengyuzhu Culture & Tech Co., LTD, Shanghai Bilibili Technology Co., LTD
Project Managers: Tianlu Zhou, Ningjue Lv
Special Consultant: Xiaoling Ji
Structural Design Consultant: Tao Qu
Construction Drawing Team: Zhejiang Huichuang Design Group Co., Ltd.
Structural Design Consultant: Shanghai Jingdao Bamboo Construction Design co. LTD.
Contractor: Zhejiang Yuanjing Construction Co., Ltd.

Photos by: Chao Zhang, Guowei Liu

photo © Guowei Liu

About Studio 10
Founded in 2017, Studio 10 is a multidisciplinary architectural design practice based in Shenzhen, China, with a branch in Hong Kong. Our work spans research-driven architecture, interiors, exhibitions, products, and other creative disciplines, grounded in a deep respect for context, history, and cultural significance.

Our design research spans both the world’s densest urban environments and low-density rural areas. As a multidisciplinary design studio, we view architecture and space as the most fundamental and ubiquitous mediums connecting humans to the natural, social, and cultural environments in which they live.

In our practice, architecture and space are not merely shelters or ways for us to perceive the surrounding environment, but catalysts for revitalizing urban and rural communities and improving their surroundings. Throughout this process, we continuously reflect on how architecture can drive economic, cultural, and social progress, striving to achieve a lasting balance and harmony between humans and the environment.

photo © Chao Zhang

To reconnect humans with nature, we explore unconventional approaches to form and materials, driven by a desire to humanize architecture. By reintroducing craftsmanship from pre-industrial and pre-digital eras, we create a blend of rationality and intuition in architecture and space. We also continuously experiment with reclaimable and reusable natural and industrial materials, employing innovative and intentionally alienated applications to advocate for greater environmental awareness and sensitivity.

Studio 10 has a diverse team with global vision and thorough local cultural awareness. Its works have won multiple global design honors: 2026 and 2021 Architizer A+ Jury Prizes and Special Mentions, 2025 AIA Hong Kong Excellence & Sustainability Design Awards, 2022 AIA Hong Kong Honor & Excellence Awards, ArchDaily 2020 Top 10 Shortlist and 2019 Annual Award, Dezeen 2021 Exhibition of the Year and 2019 Highly Commended Project, DFA Design for Asia Awards, plus a FRAME Social Responsibility Award nomination. Architizer listed Studio 10 among ten worldwide female-led architecture studios in 2021, while its Dream·Maze project was selected for TIME’s 2019 World’s 100 Greatest Places and appeared on the magazine’s cover.

photo © Guowei Liu