AZL Architects has completed the BingDing Wood Kiln Factory in Qiancheng village, China, building a series of concrete arches over a traditional brick kiln.
AZL Architects designed the whole porcelain factory to echo the shapes of the monumental, egg-shaped kiln. Concrete arches curve over the body of the kiln, with windows and vertical joints orientated around it at the centre.

Concrete double-height arches also frame the exterior facades, with the tops filled in with a latticework of bricks that match those used to make the kiln.
These perforated brick screens cover the gaps in the top of the arches that form the second floor windows.

Nestled in a bamboo forest in a mountainous area an hour from Jingdezhen, the factory is dedicated to keeping the art of wood fired kilns alive. Traditional methods of firing porcelain by burning red pine is under threat from the introduction of modern technology. No written documents exist for the design of the complex double-curved brick arches that form the kiln. The knowledge of how to construct one has been passed down orally for generations.

Placing different vantage points around the edges and making the kiln a focal point was an important part of the design.
"The BingDing Wood kiln is a ceremonial space, where the kiln workers have a sense of pride in their work," said AZL Architects.
"It's also where a strong sense of awe towards both the traditional crafting technique and the unremitting spirit of craftsmanship ca...