AA Environmental and Technical Studies (ETS) tutor Kostas Grigoriadis has finished building theCozoo Tourist Centrein rural China, which is now open to the public. The tourist centre, located in the Huangshan (Yellow) Mountain region in southeast China, consists of a visitor information space, local craft display, storage area, staff rooms, restrooms and an observation deck.

The project aims to make a strong connection with its context through the integration of the building, both formally and materially, into the surrounding landscape. The majority of materials, such as the cedar wood used for the façade ribs, have been locally sourced which not only enhances the approach to merge structure and environment, but also minimises the carbon footprint required to construct the building.

In response to an ambition put forward in China to reverse urban migration, the project was funded by a national strategic plan that encourages working with reasonable budget constraints, local materials and the tools and machinery available in the region. The now completed Cozoo Tourist Centre can be viewed as a model of these aims as a sustainable focal point for local inhabitants and visitors alike who inhabit this remote rural region.

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Image: Cozoo Tourist Centre at the Huangshan (Yellow) Mountain region, 2021. Photography by Li Zhang.