To breathe new life into Nine Women’s Peak, a branch of the famous mount that gives its name to the city of Tai’an, Shandong Lushang Group commissioned Syn Architects to develop the overall planning and design of the mountainous area, its villages, and the Hometown Moon, the representative structure of the project.

A moon that never sets. According to this rhetoric, the building functions as a ceremony hall designed to escape conventionalisms. The building occupies more than 1,000 square meters consisting of the moon, the cavity, and the grey space. It attracts locals and tourists from other provinces, can host ceremonies and events, and provide spiritual and operational values that strengthen the village’s resources.

It takes about five to ten minutes to walk along the path between mountains and streams. The entrance lies behind a boulder. From here on, visitors begin to enjoy communion with nature. Birds singing, insects chirping, rustling leaves, gurgling streams, and hearts beating with joy and anticipation; the sounds of nature make visitors feel at ease.
After crossing a mountain, a river, and exploring a few curved pathways, visitors finally arrive at the building. Here, they ponder about the intriguing nature of the architecture. And on the emotional side, their senses of hearing and smell are stimulated by their natural surroundings.

Photos credits: Zheng Yan