Prism Shelter: a Viewing Pavilion on Changbai Mountain
Prism Shelter is a viewing pavilion by Space10 Studio located at the foot of Changbai Mountain, conceived as an inhabitable optical installation within a winter landscape defined by snow, wind, and low temperatures. Positioned to frame views of the mountain massif, the structure provides a sheltered point from which visitors can pause and observe the surrounding terrain. The project combines the typology of a small timber cabin with a calibrated visual device that alters the perception of the distant ridgelines. While the exterior reads as a compact black volume, the interior introduces a contrasting spatial condition centered on a red chamber and an optical mechanism that refracts and reconfigures the mountain view.
The design draws on the regional tradition of raw timber cabins once common in the forests around Changbai Mountain. Although large-scale logging has ceased for environmental protection, timber construction remains embedded in the area’s building culture. Prism Shelter references this context through a direct construction logic and the use of reclaimed wood sourced from nearby cities. The timber cladding is treated through charring, increasing its resistance to moisture, snow, and low temperatures. The resulting blackened surface forms a durable outer shell suited to harsh climatic conditions. Its coarse texture and linear grain reinforce the building’s orientation toward the mountain, visually directing attention to the landscape beyond.
all images courtesy of Space10 Studio
a small timber cabin turns into a calibrated optical device
Inside, the pavilion shifts from dark exterior enclosure to an intense red interior chamber. This chromatic contrast establishes a distinct spatial atmosphere within the compact volume. At the center of the installation, a calibrated optical device refracts the view of Changbai Mountain. The mechanism fractures and recomposes the distant ridgelines, transforming a familiar panorama into a dynamic visual field. Through this system, the act of viewing becomes mediated and spatially embedded. The shelter functions simultaneously as refuge and perceptual instrument, structuring both bodily occupation and visual engagement.
Prism Shelter forms part of the participatory art experiment site for the Yuxing MARIE DALGAR Nature Theater. Installed within a snow-covered environment, it operates as a small-scale architectural intervention within a broader artistic and environmental context. Through this project, Space10 Studio explores the relationship between human presence and natural cycles under extreme climatic conditions. By situating a compact, materially grounded structure within the expansive landscape of Changbai Mountain, the pavilion frames seasonal change and encourages direct, embodied interaction with the environment.
Prism Shelter by Space10 Studio stands at the foot of Changbai Mountain as a compact viewing pavilion
the black timber volume is positioned to frame views of the surrounding mountain massif
the structure provides shelter from snow, wind, and low winter temperatures