

Golden
Arch Design Award
Winner
in
Architectural Design Category
'26
Eye for Earth Eye for Sky
Designed by
Siyu Zhu, Yijia Tang (PROP)
Title:
Function:
Location:
Designer:
Website:
Team Members:
Eye for Earth Eye for Sky
Cultural Architecture
Allihies, Ireland
Siyu Zhu, Yijia Tang (PROP)
Siyu Zhu, Yijia Tang

Photo Credits:
Siyu Zhu, Yijia Tang
Copyrights:
Siyu Zhu, Yijia Tang
The Irish landscape tells a story of time – its abandoned copper mines being the most evident traces of every ordinary 19th-century laborer who ventured far below sea level for minerals. This project commemorates their daily descent from sky to earth. Echoing the man-machine, three facilities stretch from high ground to low: accommodations perched above cliffs overlooking the Atlantic; a museum linking the old engine house and mine site; and a wellness center embedded in the ground, inviting inward reflection. Together, they form a bodily journey through the rugged landscape. The cultural complex is designed for hikers and tourists drawn to Allihies for its cultural and natural splendor. The museum, lodge, and wellness center share a spatial sequence that welcomes visitors from outside in. Each connects uniquely to nature: the wellness center features an outdoor pool above an indoor hot spring, the museum a grand stair with an outlook deck, and the lodge penthouse terraces with ocean views and whirlpools.







