Maitreya Altar

The Maitreya Altar project in Xuedou Mountain, Fenghua, has garnered international acclaim, winning the prestigious 2026 World Architecture Festival (WAF) China Special Award. This recognition celebrates the project’s distinctive design concept, sustainable construction philosophy, and innovative urban renewal practices, solidifying its status as a new landmark reborn from a former quarry.

Often hailed as the “Oscars of Architecture,” the World Architecture Festival, established in 2008, is the world’s foremost architectural event. Since introducing the China Special Award in 2020, WAF has spotlighted high-quality domestic architectural projects, elevating original Chinese design and urban renewal achievements onto the global stage.

Located in Xuedou Mountain, Xikou Town, Fenghua, the Maitreya Altar project was developed by Fenghua Famous Mountain Group and primarily designed by the Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tsinghua University. A paramount feature of the project is the ecological transformation of a disused quarry. Through meticulous design and renovation, it effectively heals ecological scars, creating a harmonious example of mountain architecture where nature and built form seamlessly coexist.

The project’s layout thoughtfully incorporates the aesthetic logic of traditional Chinese architecture’s “beginning, development, transition, and conclusion” (qi cheng zhuan he). It intelligently links various functional areas, including a gateway plaza, cultural exhibition hall, exchange center, and expansive landscape platforms. This design masterfully integrates ancient Chinese construction wisdom with modern architectural technology and ecological restoration techniques, showcasing both profound Eastern artistic conception and the practical, open, and innovative characteristics essential for contemporary public buildings.