Location: Sandu County, China.

Architect: West-line Studio.

The Shui Cultural Center, located in Guizhou Province, is a gateway to Sandu County, the land of the Shui people. The Shui are an ethnic minority group in China, and the cultural center pays homage to their language and traditions. The iconic shape of the building follows the shape of the character for “mountain,” and the facade pattern is inspired by Shui’s traditional characters. The site is surrounded by water on three sides, and the building uses perforated bronze steel plates to cover the concrete structure, creating a contrast with the heavy material. The building consists of three main stripes, including a ritual hall, reception hall, and a space for visitor and service centers, a cafeteria, toilets, business center, and an upstairs office area. The Shui Cultural Center stands as a new contemporary landmark that pays homage to the local culture and traditional architecture, creating a holy space that ushers visitors into a journey through the Shui’s ancestral world.

Photo credit: Jinsong Xie , Jinda Zheng.