Architects: HDEC AIR-CoLAB Studio
Area: 490 m²
Year: 2024
Photographs: Arch-Exist
Lead Architects: Zaiguo Lin
Landscape Design: Z+T Studio
Construction: Chengdu Dingxin Construction Engineering Co.
Category: Landscape Architecture
Design Team: Zaiguo Lin, Zhihao Li, Chuni Huang, Yurong Huang, Zhuoran Xu, Xinyi Zheng, Congyue Zhou（Internship）
Construction Drawing Design: Zhoyu Technology Group Co., Ltd
Floodlighting Design: Beijing Tongheng Heming Optoelectronic Research Institute Co., Ltd.
Clients: Chengdu Wide Horizon Investment Group
City: Cheng Du Shi
Country: China
Luhu Ring of Starlight pavilion, designed by Z+T Studio in Chengdu’s Vortex Park, has redefined the park’s central island as a contemplative public space. Surrounded by water and accessible only through meandering paths or by boat, the project enhances the sense of seclusion and retreat from the urban pace. Completed within a dense mix of residential and commercial surroundings, the small-scale structure—only 25 meters in diameter—was envisioned as a discreet yet vital element integrated into the natural environment. Influenced by traditional Chinese garden design, the architecture frames layered visual experiences along winding approaches and culminates in a white concrete platform that doubles as an open-air theatre. Designed to shift with the viewer’s movement and seasonal light, the pavilion includes a bridge that dips down to the water, forming a performance stage level with the lake. Though an original water curtain feature was excluded during execution, the building’s atmosphere remains immersive through reflected light and water views. The structure serves multiple uses—from a 100-seat theatre to a quiet retreat—allowing visitors to engage with nature, solitude, and community.
The Luhu Ring of Starlight project sits on the island at the centre of Vortex Park, designed by Z+T Studio. The park is bordered by commercial and residential plots, forming a semi-enclosed configuration. While the Ring of Starlight is at the geographic and visual core of the park, it remains physically isolated by a surrounding body of water. Visitors must traverse wooded trails or travel by boat, covering nearly 1,000 meters from any entry point. This isolation renders the island the quietest part of the park, distant from urban noise, and evokes the feel of an idyllic retreat.
In this setting closely linked to nature, the developers intended for the modest, 25-meter-wide structure to serve as the park’s landmark. According to the architects, “we did not wish to make its presence known through a vast mass but rather hoped for it to harmonize with nature, giving it a vitality akin to other natural elements, revealing different aspects over time and with changing scenes.”
The architects drew from traditional Chinese garden concepts to devise two arrival routes—by land and water. These pathways were designed to allow visitors to experience spatial transformation through sequential views. An initial concept proposed a water curtain at the cantilevered structure’s entrance. Visitors would first hear distant flowing water, and the mist would form a veil, obscuring sightlines. Although this feature was later removed during construction, the path still gradually reveals the building through filtered glimpses as angles shift.
Upon arrival, visitors step into a white concrete world. The pedestrian bridge across the water features an expanded railing that doubles as a pavilion, providing cover from the elements. At the island’s centre, the bridge dips toward the water, forming an open-air theatre. The stage lies level with the water, resembling a lotus leaf. Visitors arriving by boat can disembark at the platform, ascend a stair, and follow the cantilevered bridge along the water’s edge. Standing at the railing, they become part of the view for others in the park. As night falls, the structure becomes a silent presence. Seen from surrounding high-rises, the Ring of Starlight resembles a crescent moon resting on the lake, accentuating the quiet of the evening.
The building’s function is intentionally flexible. It accommodates small press events, performances for up to 100 people, or informal gatherings. The narrow bridge—designed for single-file passage—becomes a playful zone for children. Visitors may also read quietly on the steps, making space for solitude. The idea for the theatre emerged from a travel experience in Hierapolis. Sitting on empty semicircular stone steps as daylight faded and the horizon glowed evoked a feeling of timelessness. The architects sought to recreate that sensory release, heightening visitors’ awareness of natural elements—the wind-ruffled water, fluctuating reflections, and shadows moving across concrete surfaces.
This secluded theatre fosters temporary detachment from the external world, offering a place for quiet, perceptual engagement and inner reflection.
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Project Location
Address: Jiazhou Road, Tianfu New District, Chengdu, China
The location specified is intended for general reference and may denote a city or country, but it does not identify a precise address.
