A covered bridge for Fengwu village: Reviving an aqueduct as public life

A prefabricated CLT covered bridge overlays a 1960s aqueduct in Fengwu Village, Huangshan, transforming disused irrigation infrastructure into a shaded public space.

Fengwu Village in Yixian County, Huangshan, is celebrated for its scenery and heritage, yet struggles with population outflow, an aging community, and a lack of public facilities. Launched in 2023, the rural revitalisation charity initiative Fengwu JI uses design to improve daily life, balancing international perspectives with local character.

One key intervention, The Covered Bridge on Aqueduct, reclaims an abandoned 1960s irrigation channel: a U-shaped concrete aqueduct spanning the Fengxi River. Long embedded in villagers’ memories of farming and childhood play, it sits beside a monumental metasequoia, revered as the village’s fengshui tree, forming a powerful, ready-made place.

The existing bridge functioned mainly as a passage, offering little comfort or reason to stay. The project transforms it into a shaded public room, a covered bridge designed for rest, conversation, and informal gatherings, strengthening the village’s social life without monumental gestures.

Rather than replacing the aqueduct, the design preserves its rough surfaces, moss, and vegetation, treating patina as heritage. A lightweight wooden structure is placed over the concrete like a second skin, echoing Huizhou architectural sensibilities while minimising additional load.

The bridge is built from prefabricated cross-laminated timber, composed of 19 interlocking units. Two asymmetrical roofs are separated by an open gap to improve airflow. Locally sourced cedar is used for non-structural parts, and lightweight corrugated panels subtly reflect the landscape so the structure blends into its surroundings. Inside, seating and reclining benches encourage lingering while acting as discreet safety edges. Designed for hand assembly, bolted connections reduce reliance on heavy machinery and limit disruption to the village environment.

Stone-lined channels at both ends create a slow, sensory entry, inviting touch and close contact with mossy surfaces. River stones collected from the Fengxi River extend the material story, linking new construction to local ground.

Intertwined with the old aqueduct, the covered bridge becomes both tribute and infrastructure: a place to gather, pause, and reconnect, turning forgotten utilities into a renewed commons for Fengwu’s future.

Project Credit

Name: The Bridge
Location: China, Huangshan, Shanghai
Design: IARA
Completed: 2023
Photo: Huien Song

More Photos