Niyang River Visitor Centre Changes Your Perception

This year’s edition of the International Award Architecture in Stone ranged from important public buildings regarding large European institutions to works that recuperate degraded urban zones, exposing the quality of pre-existing stone structures integrated with similar lithotypes and combined with other materials in harmony with them.

The winners, StandardArchitecture, wowed the jury with their Niyang River Visitors Centre project, a minimal structure with simple volumes marked by deep openings where sunlight penetrates from different angles and creates constantly changing perceptions.

The central courtyard connects four openings, responding to the orientations and circulation. The left over mass after "carving" accommodates three major interior functions：a ticket office, a dressing room for rafting and toilets.

Its creators say the construction of this building adopted and developed the techniques of the Tibetan vernacular.

There is a 600mm thick load-bearing wall on top of the concrete foundation. Most openings have deep recessions. The 400mm thick walls at both sides of the openings work as buttresses, increasing the overall structural stability and reducing the interior span as well.

“Beams for bigger spans are made from several small logs bonded together. A 150mm thick layer of Aga clay covers the waterproof membrane. Aga clay is a vernacular waterproofing material. It stiffens when tampered with water and works as another layer of waterproofing and heat insulation. Its plasticity allows gutters to be shaped. Roof drainage is well organized with these gutters and channel steel scuppers,” the designers explain.

“After several experiments we decided to paint the stone walls as white as the Potala Palace. The pure white color enhances the geometric transition of space."

"From morning to dusk, the sunshine changes its direction and altitude angle, penetrating through the different openings. When passing through the building, people perceive the spatial drama at different time. The building successfully maintains its humble essence at the same time passing out a strong sense of contemporariness.”