The Warp project cover Scroll to project introduction

The Warp

Type
Structure Model
Team
Kewei Xu (Cornell B. Arch '25)
Jiayu Su (Cornell B. Arch '25)
Instructor
Prof. Mark Cruvellier
Year
2021

The Warp is a timber pavilion designed by Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin with the University of Hong Kong as part of post-earthquake reconstruction in Ludian, Yunnan, China. Situated along the main road into a mountain village, it serves as a gathering place for the area's ethnically diverse, predominantly Muslim community. The compact structure brings together three everyday functions: stepped concrete seating for a roadside market, a wooden viewing deck, and a sheltered area for resting and eating. Extending toward the valley, the deck transforms from a straight line into an undulating sine curve. Its peaks and troughs echo the surrounding terrain, creating complementary spaces above and below for viewing and resting. Developed with a local timber workshop and built with architecture students, the project explores how economical timber construction can connect landscape, public space, and community life.

The Warp 8
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The Warp 2
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