The Sweep

Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin designed for a village in Yunnan Province The Sweep, a viewing platform and play area with a timber structure, constructed by students from The University of Hong Kong.

After The Pinch, Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin completed their second project in a series of three: the Sweep, a viewing platform and play area.

Each project explores a different possibility with timber truss arrangement/construction and ruled surfaces.

Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China

Conducted as an experiential learning project in the Department of Architecture at The University of Hong Kong, The Sweep was built in 6 days with 65 students. The timber structure is designed as a series of 12 trusses arranged tangentially into a self-reinforced ring. Each truss cantilevers up to 4 meters to support a decked surface. As the trusses descend and ascend, the ruled surface evolves from the ground upward, culminating in a spectacular view across a valley of rice terraces.

Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China

The project is located at the entrance to the local primary school. Students live in the school on weekdays and are picked up by parents for the weekend. The platform is a natural waiting area for parents and students, offering a shaded space below. Though the plan arrangement of trusses is simple, the overall structure delivers a diversity of views and spaces, constructing a 360 degree panorama of village houses, mountains, valley, and farmland.

Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China
Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China
Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China
Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China
Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China
Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China
Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China
Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China
Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China
Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China
Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China
Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China
Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China
Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China
Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China
Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China
Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China
Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China
Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China
Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China
Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China
Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China
Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin, The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China


The Sweep, Tuanjie Village, Yunnan Province, China
Program: Viewing Platform and Play Area
Design: Olivier Ottevaere and John Lin / The University of Hong Kong
Construction: Kunming Dianmuju Shangmao Company Ltd.
Project Team: Crystal Kwan (Project Manager), Connie Cheng, Gabriel Chan, HKU Architecture Students
Funding: Supported by the Gallant Ho Experiential Learning Center, HKU
Area: 60 sqm
Completion: March 2014