META PROJECT
Founded in 2007 Beijing
Founder Wang Shuo, Zhang Jing
Project construction date 2016.3-2016.11
Location Songhua Lake, Jilin
Area 277 sqm
Photo by Su Shengliang
Courtesy META Project
www.meta-project.org
META-工作室
2007年成立于北京
创始人王硕, 张婧
森之舞台林中观景平台
项目时间2016年3月至2016年11月
位于吉林万科松花湖度假区
面积277平方米
摄影苏圣亮
图片来自META-工作室
Stage of Forest
Skiing starts its root in northern countries, such as Scandinavia, Russia, Mongolia, etc. At first, it was for transport. Then it has become a sport.
In France, every year in February, children will have two weeks of a ski vacation. Parents or schools will take them to the ski resorts. Even though the cost of skiing and accommodation can be high, it is almost an annual treat for the family. It was after the first Winter Olympics Games held in 1924 in Chamonix, south-eastern France at the border of Switzerland and Italy, that the sport took off.
In China, skiing is not a traditionally typical sport. But the ski culture has become a brand new phenomenon. As Beijing is going to host the 2020 Winter Olympic Games, the government has been working to develop the ski industry. Furthermore, China is no lack of skiing mountains or natural weathering condition. There are mountain ranges in the middle and north-eastern China. The ski resorts are growing nine per cent annually in recent years.
The project Stage of Forest by Beijing based architecture studio META-Project is commissioned by the Songhua Lake Resort in Jilin province, north-east of China. In this tremendous Songhua Lake Resort, there is not only 1510000 sqm ski area, but also a various choice of restaurants and hotels. The complete and convenient facility offers modern comfort to Chinese tourists, who care a lot about the quality of eating and living.
The resort in summer is surrounded by luscious greenery and in winter covered by thick white snow. META-Project aimed to build a viewing platform which can maximize the panoramic view facing the Songhua Lake and the mountain ranges but minimize the impact for the surrounding nature. The viewing platform is chosen to be located at the edge of the forest next to the ski slope.
In the shape of the triangle, the platform is composed of upper and lower two contrast parts: the wood stage and the concrete base. The choice of two types of rough materials is due to the restriction of the high altitude of the site and the severe weather condition.
The light-coloured heavy base was structured directly at the site, after a dozen of trials.
The dark wood platform is made of charred cedar shingles (Shou-Sugi-Ban), originated in Japan in the 18th century, an ancient technique to char and treat the wood surface to make it weatherproof, rendering it a deep charcoal-black colour, reflecting the sunshine.
Entering into the concrete vestibule, the dimmed light leads you to a narrow staircase to reach the platform level. The wide-open view of the Songhua Lake, mountains and sky, clear or hazed by the ever-changing mist, suddenly unfolds entirely. An exceptional vista which is breathtakingly beautiful and magical.
In the column of the platform, there are a pair of oval openings: one cut in the roof allows the sunshine and snowflake to flow in; the other in the floor to look through the land and skiers under the platform.
This project reminds the Norwegian Wild Reindeer Centre Pavilion by architecture studio Snøhetta. An observatory built in extreme natural condition. The pavilion is also immerged the idea of using the contrast of materials and shapes. The rigid outer shell is a rectangular frame of raw steel and glass. The soft, organic inner wooden core is shaped like rock or ice that has been eroded by natural forces such as wind and running water.
