sou fujimoto's 'sky mountain' curls up the coastal landscape of hainan province

Sou Fujimoto’s new landmark at Haikou Bay

Renowned Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto has completed ‘Sky Mountain’, a circular pavilion nestled amidst Hainan province‘s coastal landscape. Its undulating form showcases a white roof that gently curls up the beach, evoking the silhouette of rolling mountains. The design harmoniously captures the fluidity of the sea and the vastness of the sky, creating a captivating interplay between nature’s elements.

As visitors traverse the undulating path created by the roof, they can enjoy breathtaking views of the sunset over the sea. The strategic positioning of the pavilion’s white ring invites guests to immerse themselves in the tranquility of natural scenery as the sun dips below the horizon.‘We believe the Haikou Seaside Stop pavilion is a focal point providing an opportunity for its travelers to meander between the city and nature with places for social happenings.’

all images by Sou Fujimoto

‘Sky Mountain’ pavilion unites the built and natural world

Designed by Sou Fujimoto (see more here), the pavilion boasts a sprawling construction area exceeding 2,000 square meters. With its rolling rooftop, the building forms a ‘mountain in the sky’ that seamlessly connects the city and the sea. Concealed within its flexible architectural curves, the structure exudes a sense of solidity, all the while appearing as ethereal and dynamic as the ever-changing sky. Visitors have the opportunity to cross the roof, granting them access to breathtaking vistas of the seaside scenery.

Beneath the graceful slope lies an expansive and transparent shared space spanning approximately 800 square meters. This versatile area encompasses the main curatorial space, a bookstore, and a pop-up coffee shop, enabling artistic and cultural activities to unfold. Through this design, the architects aim to foster a harmonious interaction between humans and nature, inviting a seamless connection between the built environment and the natural world.

the white roof echoes the changes between the sea and the sky

its curvaceous form is crowned by a refined white roof that sweeps along the beach

its wavy shape invites visitors to appreciate and engage with the surrounding environment

various spots beckon visitors to linger and enjoy the mesmerizing views

artificial and nature work flawlessly together

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project info:

name: Sky Mountain – Haikou Bay No.6 High Standard Seaside Station

architects: Sou Fujimoto Architects | @sou_fujimoto

principal in charge: Sou Fujimoto

project team: Yibei Liu, Wei Wang, Hwasun Im, Xuan Bo, Xiaolin Li , Tony Yu (ex-staff), Calum Mulhern, Panit Limpiti
location: Haikou, China
construction years: 2019 – 2023

clients: Hainan Provincial Tourism Investment Holding Group Co., Ltd.
executive architects: China Southwest Architecture
general contractor: China Construction Eighth Engineering Division Co., Ltd
commercial operator: ARANAYA

program:
coffee bar: 410sqm
book store: 350sqm
restroom: 65 sqm
outside space for leisure under roof: 775sqm
site area: 21 600 sqm
building area: 3600 sqm
total floor area: 1600 sqm
major materials: fair-faced concrete, glass