The Shunde Yunlu Wetland Pavilion is an artful park rooted in nature. The design balances ecological preservation and restoration of the wetlands and native vegetation, while creating a gateway for people to explore and connect with the natural world. Here, light, time, space, and the ever-changing vitality of life are magnified through the designer’s lens, transforming the landscape into a vivid narrative. Visitors are immersed in the serenity, poetry, and ecological richness of this space, allowing them to fully embrace the essence of natural living.

The pavilion’s southern boundary is marked by a bamboo grove designated as the Egret Conservation Zone. This area is surrounded by protective waterways, creating a secure habitat for the bird population. Human presence in this space plays a dual role: as both observers of nature and participants within the ecosystem. While the wetland pavilion is publicly accessible, the design prioritizes minimizing disturbances to the egrets and their surrounding ecological environment.

Every living being, whether plant or animal, holds intrinsic significance. The pavilion’s location was carefully chosen to offer visitors an intimate view of nature while maintaining a respectful distance. The site is home to abundant native vegetation and water features, including seasonally changing bald cypresses, towering royal palms, and majestic banyan trees.

The spaces between the native vegetation and the architecture have been thoughtfully transformed into a flexible sponge wetland system, interwoven with water islands. This design respects the site’s natural conditions while introducing ecological resilience. The park features 125 unique plant species, both preserved and newly planted, creating a vibrant and ever-changing landscape for visitors to enjoy. All pedestrian pathways are elevated to minimize disturbances to wildlife. This design approach not only protects the local ecosystem but also offers visitors a distinctive opportunity to experience the raw and untamed beauty of the wetland.

Once the ecological system was established, the architecture seemingly “disappeared,” becoming a harmonious part of the landscape. While blending seamlessly into its surroundings, the architecture also engages in a profound dialogue with nature. 

The pavilion’s windows function as viewfinders, framing and magnifying the most exquisite scenes of the natural environment.Beauty is omnipresent, but it takes a discerning eye—like a viewfinder—to truly discover and appreciate it. By inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the natural setting, the design fosters moments of reflection, healing, and a deep connection to the world around them.

““Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.” ——Ralph Waldo Emerson

Embracing nature is a fundamental human instinct, one that inspires a deeper appreciation for life itself. Nature exists in its purest form, and human intervention here is restrained, refined, and elegantly minimal.

This is more than a wetland park—it is a collaborative creation where the energy of architecture, the power of art, and the healing essence of nature converge. Together, they craft a profound statement on ecological preservation while offering an experience of deep spiritual resonance and meaning.

Project Name: Shunde Yunlu Wetland Pavilion
Location: Shunde District, Foshan City, China
Area: 2 hectares
Design Period: 2023
Completion: 2024
Client:  CR Land, Shunde People’s Government of Foshan
Landscape Design: Change Studio
Landscape Construction Drawings: Shenzhen Hongrui Landscape Design Co., Ltd.
Landscape Contractor: Guangdong Nature Landscaping Co., Ltd.
Architectural Design: Link-Arc Studio
Interior Design:  Yu Studio
Photography: Wang Ning, Holi, Wang Ting