A groundbreaking architectural project has emerged from the wilderness of Huai'an County in Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, where designers have transformed an abandoned concrete bridge into a stunning example of contemporary landscape architecture. The Manor Mirage, designed by BUZZ/Büro Ziyu Zhuang, represents a innovative approach to architectural renovation that respects both site memory and traditional grassland culture.
Located adjacent to the renowned Zhangbei Grassland, this 400-square-meter project completed in 2024 demonstrates how abandoned infrastructure can be given new life through thoughtful design intervention. The project's core philosophy centers on the lightweight translation and functional regeneration of the existing concrete bridge structure, using minimal intervention strategies to create maximum impact.
The design team, led by architect Ziyu Zhuang and including Zhongqi Ren, Mengzhao Xing, and several interns, approached the project with a poetic metaphor of "mirage" - creating a spatial form that embodies both disappearance and transience. This conceptual framework allows the architecture to exist in a state of dialectical coexistence between built environment and natural landscape, bridging traditional cultural values with contemporary architectural practice.
The project's success lies in its low-intervention approach, which preserves the essential character of the original bridge structure while introducing new programmatic elements that serve the local rural tourism industry. The renovation was commissioned by Zhangbei Desheng Rural Tourism Industry Development Co., Ltd., reflecting the growing trend of adaptive reuse in China's rural development initiatives.
Collaborating with L.J. Design Limited for landscape design and Purilighting for lighting consultation, the team created a cohesive design that integrates seamlessly with the surrounding grassland environment. The project photography by Yumeng Zhu and Archi-Translator captures the ethereal quality of the structure, showing how the renovated bridge appears to float like a mirage against the vast grassland backdrop.
Manor Mirage stands as a testament to the potential of architectural renovation to honor historical memory while serving contemporary needs, demonstrating that thoughtful design intervention can create spaces that are both functionally relevant and culturally resonant in China's evolving rural landscape.
