On Nov 26, the globally renowned Dezeen Awards 2024 announced its winners. Among 53 awarded projects worldwide, only three Chinese entries made it to the final list. Among them is the IARA: Fengwuji Aqueduct Gallery Bridge in Fengwu Village, located in Yixian county, Huangshan, Anhui province, which received the Highly Commended Award in the Infrastructure and Transport category.
Fengwu village, an 800-year-old living environment, has been grappling with challenges such as population outflow and aging demographics. In 2023, students and faculty from institutions like Yale, Harvard, and Tongji University initiated the IARA Rural Action - Fengwuji project to revitalize the village and preserve its cultural roots.
The project reimagined a disused aqueduct from the 1960s, adding a lightweight wooden structure to create a gallery bridge. Designed to blend modern industrial aesthetics with the village's natural and historical elements, the bridge retains the aqueduct's original form while providing communal spaces for villagers. Its roof, made of lightweight corrugated sheets, complements the wooden framework, while integrated seating areas offer panoramic views and resting spaces.
The gallery bridge stands as a testament to the fusion of modern design and cultural heritage. It revives collective memories, nurtures community life, and celebrates the timeless charm of Huizhou's rural landscape. As dusk falls over Fengwu village, the bridge becomes a harmonious symbol of past and future, enveloped in the scents of hearth and earth.