Studio RE+N's Floating Pavilion Offers Viewing Platform on Chinese Tea Mountain

Studio RE+N has completed an 85-square-meter open-air pavilion atop a terraced tea mountain in Songyang County, Zhejiang Province, China. Situated approximately 500 meters above sea level in the Organic Tea Valley of Xinxing Town, the structure serves as both a viewing platform and rest area within an active agricultural landscape. The design employs a minimal intervention approach with a lightweight steel structure on slender supports to reduce terrain impact. A curved roof follows the hillside contours, while granite steps extend existing tea-picking paths to connect the pavilion to terraces below. The spatial sequence transitions from enclosure to openness, with the roof lifting at the lowest point to reveal panoramic valley views. Prefabricated components were transported via carts and cable systems due to steep terrain. Since completion, the pavilion has been integrated into both visitor circulation and agricultural use, improving access for tea farmers during harvest periods.