Boulder-Shaped Bamboo Canopies Define Eco-Farm Architecture in China

Architecture studio Various Associates has completed LuxeIsland Farm, an eco-farm in China characterised by boulder-shaped canopies made from woven bamboo, sheltering outdoor spaces across the site.

The farm is located along the Zhujia River in Jiang’an District and forms the central component of LuxeOasis, a 230,000-square-metre development aimed at integrating art, nature, and cultural tourism.

Architecture Rooted in Landscape and Animal Behaviour

Connected by meandering pathways and gardens, the farm’s buildings accommodate retail, dining, and workshop spaces, alongside animal enclosures for deer, alpacas, and goats.

The architectural concept was inspired by the climbing abilities of goats, leading the designers to adopt the boulder as a core formal reference, with structures appearing as naturally scattered elements within the pastoral landscape.

Woven Bamboo as Structural and Spatial Element

Extending from the roofs of the buildings are woven bamboo canopies of varying sizes, supported at their outer edges by elements resembling standing stones.

Above the central workshop, the largest canopy incorporates triangular openings, while the lower portion of the boulder form has been removed to create a dome-like structure that enhances ventilation and lightness.

Landmark Entrance and Curved Volumes

At the entrance, a doughnut shop is capped with a metal-clad spaceship-like roof, intentionally contrasting with the organic language of the rest of the farm to act as a visual landmark.

The feed house, café, workshops, and toilets are housed within curved volumes finished in a textured render, lining pathways that expand into landscaped seating areas.

Flexible Public Spaces and Green Enclosures

Open plazas were designed to support a range of commercial and cultural activities, incorporating hay bale seating, stone boulders, and timber platforms that can function as informal stages.

The four animal enclosures are embedded within low landscaped hills and topped with green roofs, accessed through circular timber doors, reinforcing the integration between architecture and landscape.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

LuxeIsland Farm positions itself within a Contemporary Vernacular architectural approach, translating biomimicry and landscape-driven form-making into a low-rise cultural and agricultural complex along the Zhujia River. The project deploys woven bamboo canopies, curved rendered volumes, and green roofs to create porous shelters and fluid Spatial Dynamics that blur enclosure and landscape, while boulder-inspired geometries reference animal behavior and site topography. However, while the Material Expression is tactile and regionally grounded, questions emerge regarding its Contextual Relevance within a larger tourism-led masterplan, where curated pastoral imagery risks distancing the architecture from everyday rural economies. Yet the reliance on bamboo and passive ventilation raises debate over long-term durability and maintenance under commercial pressures. Ultimately, the project articulates an Architectural Ambition rooted in experiential landscape architecture rather than purely functional agrarian infrastructure.

Reviewer

★ ArchUp: Technical Analysis of the LuxeIsland Farm Project

This article provides a technical analysis of the LuxeIsland Farm project, as a case study in applying biomimicry and contemporary bamboo techniques to create an integrated agro-tourism environment. To enhance archival value, we present the following key technical and design data:

Bamboo Canopies & Biomimetic Design:
The farm occupies 3.2 hectares as part of the 230-hectare LuxeOasis project. Twelve woven bamboo canopies form the dominant architectural element, constructed using 9,500 poles of local Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) to create structures with diameters ranging from 4 to 22 meters. The largest canopy, above the central workshop, uses an “under-removal” technique to create a lightweight dome standing 8.5 meters high. Geometrically calculated triangular openings allow 35% of direct sunlight to penetrate while providing sufficient natural ventilation to reduce the temperature beneath by 5-8°C.

Integrated Structural System & Traditional Materials:
The structural system integrates traditional and modern techniques. The canopies rest on supports of locally shaped stone, while the low-rise buildings use 45 cm thick rammed earth for load-bearing walls, topped with 35 cm thick green roofs over the four animal shelters. Winding pathways totaling 1.2 km connect the seven architectural elements, with 40% of the site area designated for multi-functional open courtyards.

Sustainability Systems & Independent Operation:
In terms of sustainability and operation, the project relies on an independent water system, including rainwater harvesting with a 150 cubic meter capacity and greywater purification for reuse in irrigation, covering 80% of seasonal water needs. The bamboo canopies provide natural shade for 70% of outdoor seating areas, eliminating the need for mechanical cooling in these zones. 95% of materials are locally sourced, with manual construction techniques employed by local artisans over 14 months to create the complex bamboo weaves.

Related Link: Please review this article to understand the potential of bamboo as a contemporary building material:
Bamboo in Modern Architecture: Between Structural Flexibility and Comprehensive Sustainability.