covered in sheer white mesh, this daydream trail casts a poetic glow in china

daydream trail by during the dinner studio

In early 2023, Xiangshan, one of the host cities of the 19th Asian Games, launched ‘Youth and the Sea’, a program inviting architects to build a station by the Chinese coast. The Daydream Trail, completed by During the Dinner Studio, is one of seven main stations located along the Songlanshan coastline, lying adjacent to the Ningbo Xiangshan Sailing Centre, a seawater tidal observation point connected to the shore by a trestle bridge. Wanting to revive and add depth to the space, the studio populated the bridge with an ethereal resting pavilion framing scenic sea vistas. ‘The image of the ‘sea’, as soon as it appears, seems to evoke a distant and unreachable hazy feeling like in poetry. The sea in Western literature symbolizes hope and freedom and stands for beautiful views and lofty ideals in traditional Chinese poetry. Under the sea fog, the coastline, the sporadic mass of vegetation, and the trestle bridge, the stage is laid for the daydream,‘ writes lead architect Xi Weidong.

all images © Zhu Yumeng

a translucent white pavilion casting a poetic hue, like the moon

During the night, amid the solitude of the sea in Xiangshan, the Daydream Trail station by During the Dinner Studioreflects the moon in the water, casting a poetic ambiance. To achieve such an effect, the team enveloped the yellow building and trestle in a cement grey hue before coating them in a white translucent mesh membrane, creating a dream-like house with a pointed roof. Complementing the white design are carefully planted vines on the trestle bridge, diverse lighting modes, and ambient sounds, collectively adding another layer of temporary to the station. Climbing the steps from the spire’s entrance, one can take a walk through the tunnel in the small seafront house located between sturdy columns, where light and shadow play. In line with the envisioned dreamland, the pavilion’s design forms a corridor that blends well with the site, elevation, and the tall trees in the vicinity.

Daydream Trail by During the Dinner Studio

Initially resembling a triangular fold reminiscent of a sailboat, it evolved into a small house with a spire, echoing the tidal observation station. Constructed from the same material as the tidal station— a white semi-transparent mesh membrane—the resting pavilion’s ethereal structure hangs suspended, showcasing flexibility when touched by sunlight. The light gently filters through the membrane, creating a sparse and hazy glow, effectively softening the steel structure. Both buildings complement each other, encapsulating a poetic aspiration of safeguarded dreams, argues During the Dinner Studio. The resting pavilion boasts richer light effects and patterns, flickering in the darkness like a vibrant imagination.

using sheer white mesh to create an etheral structure