The Magic Mountain (La Montaña Mágica): An Architecture Master Project Exploring A Sustainable Path To Enlightenment Through Nature, Water, And Landscape | Masters Design Thesis

Site Context

Situated at the boundary between Hangzhou’s urban fringe and its wooded hills, The Magic Mountain engages with the complex geography of eastern China. Surrounded by roads and waterways, the site reflects the contrast between structured development and natural spontaneity, between city and landscape.

Hangzhou, in Zhejiang province, features two main types of routes that shape its identity. One is the infrastructure network, enabling movement across the city and into nearby commuter towns. The other is the waterway, flowing from the province’s interior to the China Sea through Hangzhou Bay, bringing life to the region. These routes are both functional and symbolic. Unlike the dense layout of many Chinese cities, Hangzhou preserves natural boundaries, clearly separating urban development from nature. It is along one such boundary that the path to the Magic Mountain begins, on the southern slope near the Hangzhou Buddhist Academy.

The project establishes a continuous path that starts at the existing Buddhist Academy and gently rises into the hills. Its layout is inspired by the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism, leading visitors from shared, dynamic spaces—such as administrative areas, classrooms, and the dining hall—toward quieter, more introspective zones, ultimately arriving at the library. 

Instead of distinct, standalone buildings, the program is experienced through a series of spatial moments shaped by the terrain, plant life, and sensory elements. Each stage is crafted to alter perception and rhythm, creating a gradual journey toward stillness and depth.

Design Process

The project developed through a deep engagement with the landscape. Early sketches and topographic models explored how movement and terrain could shape architecture as an experiential journey. As the path took shape, the focus shifted to how each space could heighten awareness through light, materials, and silence.

The library was not the starting point but a natural outcome—its form and placement emerged from the contours of the land. Physical models and collages helped test how architecture might dissolve into the environment while sharpening perception.

Material shifts mirror the ascent: solid stone at the base, light translucent surfaces near the top. The structure adapts at every stage, informed by detailed construction studies. Each beam and joint was precisely designed to meet its spatial and structural role—an architecture defined by place and crafted with intention.

Final Outcome

The Magic Mountain is an architectural journey toward personal enlightenment, seamlessly woven into the natural landscape of Hangzhou. Beginning at the existing Buddhist Academy, the path gradually ascends into the hills, unfolding through a sequence of spaces shaped by terrain, vegetation, and water. Rooted in the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism, the design traces a spiritual and sensory ascent—each level marking a stage of inner transformation. This journey forms a new kind of Academy, one that moves beyond traditional, centralized models of learning toward a more open, individual experience.

Rather than imposing itself on the land, the architecture emerges from it. Each step and space is shaped by slope, ecology, and spiritual intent. Native plants, flowing water, and the natural topography are not backdrops but essential design elements—guiding form, perception, and movement. Early studies with models and collages informed material choices: bamboo, travertine, glass, and fog-catching textiles orchestrate a careful interplay of light, texture, and atmosphere.

Structure and material evolve with elevation. From solid concrete and stone at the base to recycled steel and translucent membranes at the top, the architecture grows lighter as it ascends, echoing the spiritual progression of the journey. Structural elements were individually developed to meet their precise functional and spatial roles, creating a building defined by specificity and responsiveness.

Sustainability is fully integrated into the design. Photovoltaic panels, geothermal systems, rainwater harvesting, and moisture-collecting textiles nourish the gardens and regulate interior comfort. These systems are not hidden but visibly expressed—serving both practical and symbolic roles in the architecture.

The journey culminates in the Library, a quiet forest clearing where the building recedes into its surroundings. Floor levels shift, rooflines open, and courtyards draw in light and landscape, ensuring every space remains connected to nature. A travertine stair branches upward through the structure like a tree, symbolizing that ascent is not only a physical act but a path to deeper awareness. As Cervantes said, “He who reads much and walks much, sees much and knows much.” This project invites both.

Conclusion: Ultimately, The Magic Mountain merges architecture with nature, offering a transformative journey of personal growth. Rooted in Buddhist philosophy, it creates a space for reflection and learning, blending landscape, structure, and sustainability in a seamless experience.

[This Academic Project has been published with text and images submitted by the student]