wuwu atelier takes an immersive approach to public amenities
WUWU Atelier tucks two concrete pavilions into the wooded terrain of Nanjing’s Sifang Art Lake District in China. The structures are a discrete yet sculptural twist on utilitarian amenities, reinterpreting the restroom as an immersive spatial encounter with nature. Perched lightly within a pine grove, The Cloud on Trees appears to hover just above the forest floor, lifted by slender pillars that match the scale of the surrounding trunks. From a nearby parking lot, a narrow bridge links the gently elevated structure to the landscape. Here, irregular concrete panels clad the exterior like textured clouds, catching dappled light and echoing the finish of bark of nearby pines in form and tone.
On the opposite side of the park, The Window in Valley is nearly invisible from the road. Sunk between two sloping hillsides, its grass-covered roof blends into the terrain, with only a staircase and elevator tower hinting at its presence. Here, visitors descend into the architecture rather than approaching it at eye level, with the narrow staircase operating as a slow transition, as long horizontal windows begin to frame the forest in carefully composed slits of light and green.
image © Hou Bowen
the public restrooms of Nanjing’s Sifang Art Lake District
The project builds on the legacy of the Sifang Art District, first initiated in 2003 as part of the China International Practical Exhibition of Architecture which brought together 24 architects from across the globe to test new spatial possibilities. Now, over two decades later, WUWU Atelier’s work adds a quieter but equally intentional gesture that shifts focus from monumental design to intimate, daily experience. Throughout, the studio has drawn upon the natural context and used formless concrete to mimic the unpredictability of environment.
The process involved shaping surface textures through model-making, clay sculpting, and film-wrapped formwork, with ensuing imperfections deliberately imbuing the architecture with a tactile softness, reinforced by the building’s open-air rest area. Here, visitors can pause among the trees and watch a preserved pine rise through a circular cutout in the ceiling.
tucked into the wooded terrain | image © Hou Bowen
pine trees shroud the cloud on trees and the window in valley
The interior stalls of the restroom pavilion titled The Cloud on Trees extend this dialogue with nature. Floor-to-ceiling windows face the forest directly, giving users a clear view of the pines while electric frosted glass ensures privacy. The transparency becomes about reorienting the senses, framing the forest, inviting air and shadow to mingle with daily routines.
Inside The Window in Valley, the contrast between rough, wrinkled concrete textures and polished interior surfaces intensifies the spatial experience. A circular skylight casts a soft halo of daylight across the space, adding a contemplative rhythm to an otherwise mundane program. The team at WUWU Atelier describe the space as cave-like in terms of its sensory clarity, with walls cradling shadows and surfaces varying with touch.
the concrete pavilions are a discrete yet sculptural twist on utilitarian amenities | image © Hou Bowen
echoing the landscape | image © Pan Youjian
the concrete textures recall clouds and tree bark | image © Hou Bowen
an immersive approach to public infrastructure | image © Pan Youjian
image © Pan Youjian
using formless concrete to mimic the unpredictability of environment | image © Pan Youjian
image © Pan Youjian
The Window in Valley is sunk between two sloping hillsides | image © Hou Bowen
image © Hou Bowen
carved like a cavernous crevice | image © Hou Bowen
light casts a soft halo of daylight across the space | image © Hou Bowen
long horizontal windows begin to frame the forest in slits of light and green | image © Hou Bowen
image © Hou Bowen
project info:
name: The Window in Valley and The Cloud on Trees — Public Restrooms
architect: WUWU Atelier, Institute of Architecture Design and Planning Co., Ltd, Nanjing University
location: Nanjing Sifang Art Lake District, China
client: Nanjing Foshou Lake Architectural Art Development Co., Ltd.
lead architects: Pan Youjian, Wan Junjie
design team:
architecture: Pan Youjian, Zhang Yuyan, Qiao Menghuan, Li Chonghao, Zhu Tuhao (Intern), Hong Ruisheng (Intern); structure: Tang Rongguang, Xie Hong’en, Yang Hao, Lu Dongyan, Yan Xinyan
plumbing & drainage: Wu Fenghuan, Zhang Ya
electrical: Wang Liming
HVAC: Wang Qian
smart systems: Ma Yong
construction: Nanjing Xingyuan Construction Engineering Co., Ltd.
photographer: Hou Bowen, Pan Youjian
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