Archermit creates "playground to pursue thrills" above Tibetan canyon

A glass-floored cantilevering viewpoint features at Nujiang River 72 Turns Canyon Scenic Area, a project by Chinese studio Archermit that transforms a perilous landscape in Tibet into a visitor destination.

The viewpoint sits in an infamous stretch of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, or G318, known as The Devil's Road due to its dangerous hairpin turns above the Nujiang Grand Canyon and river below.

Archermit was tasked by the local government to transform this stretch of road into a scenic visitor route, for which the studio created "a playground to pursue thrills and challenges" that also includes other outlooks, walkways, bridges and zip lines. 

"Whether through prostration pilgrimage, trekking, cycling, or driving, self-challenge is the core belief and pursuit for many Tibet enthusiasts," said Archermit.

"The design allows travellers on the G318 to break free from the confines of their vehicles and measure the peril of the Nujiang River with their own bodies, crafting an unforgettable travel experience that is measured by their own endurance," it added.

Spread across both sides of the canyon, the visitor experience begins on the northern edge, where a car park sits alongside a visitor centre containing a cafe, shop and small exhibition space about the history of the area.

This centre extends outwards to form the focal point of the site – the cantilevering viewpoint that loops out above the river before returning to the cliff edge, mimicking the shape of the highway's hairpin turns.

Built using a steel frame clad in panels of weathered steel, this viewpoint features a reinforced glass floor that allows visitors to look down at the river from 130 metres above it.

"The ground is laid with high-transparency safety glass, creating a true 'heavenly road' in the air, transforming the thrilling driving experience of the Nujiang River 72 Turns into an ultimate high-altitude walking experience," said Archermit.

A series of stepped walkways flanked by low walls of weathered steel lead from the viewpoint along the mountain edge to two additional, smaller viewing platforms, one based on the shape of a "space capsule" and the other a leaf.

Crossing the river is both a zip line and a white-steel suspension bridge, also finished with a reinforced glass walkway, which replaces an older, unsafe crossing.

Having crossed the bridge, visitors take a colourful wooden rope bridge called the Thrilling Steps up to a large elevator, which traverses a sheer section of mountain to connect with the opposite zip line station.

The use of weathered steel throughout the project was chosen both for its ability to withstand harsh weather conditions and in reference to the colour of the rocky landscape and the significance of red in Tibetan culture.

Due to the difficulty of accessing the area as well as its ground conditions, extensive testing and surveying were carried out before construction. This led to the foundations being drilled manually and a series of temporary bridges and hoists being used to get materials on site.

Nearby, almost 500 acres of fruit orchards have also been planted to support the local tourism industry.

Other projects in Tibet recently featured on Dezeen include a stone winery at the foot of Dameiyong Snow Mountain by Chinese studio PL-T Architecture and the wooden Shannan Beehive Observation Cabin by traditional Tibetan architecture.

The photography is by Arch-Exist unless stated otherwise.

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