The Resting Loop with Views is a newly completed pavilion designed by HCCH Studio that serves as a scenic rest stop for cyclists in Huizhou, China. Completed in 2025, this innovative structure provides parking and beverage services while offering panoramic views of the surrounding Mount Luofu landscape. The pavilion was commissioned by Fengyuzhu Culture and represents a thoughtful integration of functional infrastructure with artistic design. The project spans 200 square meters and demonstrates how small-scale architecture can create meaningful public spaces. The design team, led by architects Hao Chen and Chenchen Hu, envisioned the structure as both a practical amenity and a destination in itself.
The site is strategically positioned on a stone platform between a busy highway and a parallel river, originally functioning as a buffer zone and parking area at a sharp turn. This transitional space presented both challenges and opportunities for the designers, who needed to address safety concerns while maximizing the scenic potential. The location offers dual perspectives—one toward the flowing river and the other toward the lush, mountainous terrain. The pavilion transforms what was once merely a utilitarian stopping point into a celebrated landmark for the cycling community. The surrounding landscape of Mount Luofu provides a dramatic natural backdrop that changes with the seasons.
The design takes the form of a porous concrete donut that appears to hover above the stone platform like a low-flying UFO. With an outer diameter of 16 meters, the circular structure features two distinct levels that offer varied experiences for visitors. The lower sunken plaza provides seating areas where cyclists can relax with drinks while enjoying ground-level views of the river and mountains. Above, an elevated promenade creates an endless loop walkway that frames different vistas through carefully positioned oval openings. These cutouts overlap and are oriented in multiple directions, allowing visitors to gaze at the sky, observe the water, and appreciate the verdant landscape from different angles as they walk.
Three supporting concrete volumes anchor the structure to the sunken plaza, housing essential functions including a small café, public toilet, and storage facilities. These volumes feature doors and windows positioned to create interesting sightlines through each other, adding a layer of visual connectivity. The exterior surfaces are cast in-situ using molds made from raised-texture bamboo with approximately 7-centimeter diameter sections, creating a tactile connection to the natural environment. In contrast, the interior surfaces are smooth and seamless, producing an abstract and almost transcendent spatial experience. The dark hammered finish of the support volumes echoes the stone paving of the plaza, creating material harmony.
The project incorporates artistic elements that enhance its cultural value, including sculpture seats called "social stone" created by Shanghai-based artist Chang Su. The contrasting surface treatments meet at the edges of the oval cuts, where the ruffled shapes highlight the prominence of the bamboo texture against the smooth interior. This deliberate juxtaposition creates a rich sensory experience for visitors moving through the space. The collaboration with artist Chang Su demonstrates the architects' commitment to integrating local artistic talent into the built environment. These sculptural seating elements provide functional resting spots while contributing to the pavilion's aesthetic identity.
Despite the architects' initial vision of creating a tranquil, secluded retreat in the mountains, the flying donut has quickly become a popular destination and essential stop for cyclists. The once-quiet space now buzzes with the sounds of visitors and the activity of passing vehicles, transforming it into a vibrant social hub. This unexpected popularity highlights the success of the design in meeting a real community need while exceeding its original programmatic requirements. The project demonstrates how thoughtful architecture can elevate everyday infrastructure into celebrated public space. The Resting Loop with Views stands as a testament to HCCH Studio's ability to balance functionality, aesthetics, and social impact in a single, cohesive design.
