ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

gèngjin Architecture Office's Veil Tower rises from bamboo grove in Hubei

architecture-design · 2026-07-07

gèngjin Architecture Office has completed Veil Tower, a temporary pavilion in a moso bamboo grove in Xianning, Hubei, China. The fully recyclable installation combines a raw bamboo framework with a suspended black cotton-linen fabric enclosure. Designed with low-tech, reversible construction, the pavilion draws on Chu ritual architecture's centripetal spatial logic. Fifteen bamboo frames form a pentadecagonal structure, with untreated poles stabilized by bolted diagonal braces and cross-lashed hemp rope joints. The fabric membrane diffuses daylight at about 60% transmittance, with gaps allowing airflow. A white medical cotton tape datum line wraps each culm at consistent elevation, aligning with the veil's lower edge 1.6 meters above ground, requiring visitors to bow on entry. The pavilion leaves no permanent trace; all components can be reused or recycled. The project was built with local volunteers on a limited budget near the ANNSO Hotel. Design team includes likai Bi, Xiaozhen Xu, Xuan Lu; construction by Sheng Luo Team.

Key facts

  • Veil Tower is a temporary pavilion by gèngjin Architecture Office.
  • Located in a moso bamboo grove in Xianning, Hubei, China.
  • The structure uses raw bamboo and black cotton-linen fabric.
  • Fifteen bamboo frames form a pentadecagonal shape.
  • Joints use bolted connections and cross-lashed hemp rope.
  • Fabric transmits about 60% of daylight.
  • A white cotton tape datum line runs at consistent elevation.
  • The veil hangs 1.6 meters above ground, requiring bowing to enter.
  • The pavilion is fully recyclable and leaves no permanent trace.
  • Built with local volunteers on a limited budget.

Entities

Artists

  • likai Bi
  • Xiaozhen Xu
  • Xuan Lu
  • Sheng Luo
  • Chao Zhou
  • Pei Ji
  • Pengyu Zhou
  • Xueli Xu
  • Da chen

Institutions

  • gèngjin Architecture Office
  • ANNSO Hotel
  • ANNSO

Locations

  • Xianning
  • Hubei
  • China

Sources