Located within a forest by the riverside in Hebei, China, this buddhist shrine has been developed by ARCHSTUDIO as a place for meditation and contemplation.

The building is located in the forest by the riverside. Along the river, there is a mound, behind which is a great stretch of open field and sporadic vegetable greenhouses. The design started from the connection between the building and nature, adopts the method of earthing to hide the building under the earth mound while presenting the divine temperament of nature with flowing interior space. A place with power of perception where trees, water, Buddha and human coexist is thus created.

Five separated and continuous spaces are created within the building by two axis, among which one is north-south going and another one goes along the river. The five “branches” represent five spaces of different functions: entrance, Buddhist meditation room, tea room, living room and bathroom, which form a strolling-style experience together.

Pine wood was used for the concrete formwork, allowing the wood’s natural grain and vertical textures to appear on the resulting interior surfaces. Finally, custom-made built-in-furniture is built with wood strips, with a grey wood grain which is a little different from the concrete walls.