In the small town of Aiyuan, China, architects Yutao Chen and Yiwen Gu have transformed ordinary farming ladders into something extraordinary—a climbing amphitheatre. Their design re-imagines the humble ladder not as a tool for harvest, but as a potent symbol and structure for communal gathering.
In Aiyuan Town, ladders are inseparable from daily life. Each harvest season, villagers climb them into centuries-old pear orchards to pick fruit—a ritual carried through generations. At its core, the project weaves local cultural heritage into architecture. The ladder becomes the skeleton of a circular amphitheatre where villagers can climb, observe, perform and connect. The rising tiers—formed by multiple ladders arranged in concentric framework—offer vantage points and encourage participation.
The design mirrors the rhythms of village life. Residents bring tools and timber to the pear garden, working together to build or dismantle the amphitheatre. This collective act of construction turns architecture into a community ritual, strengthening bonds while reimagining tradition.
The structure itself blends local craftsmanship with modern techniques. A wooden base frame, triangular supports, ladders, steel-wood joints, and tension straps form the adaptable framework. The joinery is reinforced with adhesives, ensuring durability, while the angled rungs of each ladder preserve their agricultural identity within a larger architectural rhythm.
As seasons shift from farming to leisure, the amphitheatre evolves with them—hosting films, spontaneous performances, or quiet gatherings. In doing so, it revitalizes the pear garden as a living stage where community, culture, nature and tradition meet.
