The Grand Canopy Nominated for ArchDaily Building of the Year 2026

We are delighted to share that The Grand Canopy, a recent MLA+ project in Xialang Village, China, has been nominated for ArchDaily’s Building of the Year 2026 in the Cultural Architecture category.

Completed in 2025, The Grand Canopy reimagines the relationship between architecture, landscape, and community life along the Lanshi River, a watercourse that shapes both the natural environment and the social rhythms of this rural village.

Set within a seasonal river landscape that attracts thousands of visitors each summer, the project responds to local traditions of riverside recreation and informal community activity. Instead of imposing a conventional building, the design embraces the existing cultural ecology: shallow streams, bamboo groves, pebbled riverbeds, and a lively, water-driven economy.

Rooted in local materials and low-impact construction techniques, The Grand Canopy exemplifies a “traceless stream economy”, an approach where architecture supports economic activity while maintaining ecological sensitivity. Rather than altering the river’s course or imposing permanent structures, the design learns from and returns to the landscape, celebrating the seasonal rhythms that define life in Xialang.

The ArchDaily nomination recognises built works that advance contemporary architectural discourse and provide meaningful experiences in public and cultural spaces. We’re honoured that The Grand Canopy is included among this year’s selected projects.

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If you appreciate architecture that values cultural exchange, ecological sensitivity, and community interaction, we would be grateful for your support.

➡️ Vote for The Grand Canopy on ArchDaily’s Building of the Year 2026:

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