Climbing Amphitheatre

Ladders as Architecture: Reimagining Rural Life in Aiyuan Town

Aiyuan Town in Suqian, Jiangsu Province, China is defined by its centuries-old pear orchards. Each harvest season, villagers carry ladders into the fields, climbing into the trees to gather fruit, a scene passed down for generations. Here, the ladder is more than a farming tool; it is a vessel of memory, tradition, and collective identity.

The Climbing the Ladder – Party Amphitheatre transforms this humble object into the heart of a community gathering space. More than a theater, it is a shared ritual: families bring their own tools and timber to the orchard, working side by side to assemble or dismantle the structure. The act of building together becomes a celebration in itself, strengthening bonds within the village.

Constructed primarily from pear wood treated for durability, the amphitheatre takes the form of a circular, stable structure. Its framework is composed of wooden bases, triangular supports, ladders, steel wood joints, and tension straps. Each ladder is precisely designed, with angled rungs that preserve its agricultural character while creating a new architectural order. Mortise and tenon joints combined with modern adhesives ensure lasting strength, embodying both traditional craftsmanship and contemporary innovation.

This theater is a living device, quietly blending into the orchard during the farming season, then transforming into a vibrant stage during times of rest. At night, when the village grows still, the amphitheatre comes alive with light, laughter, music, and spontaneous performance. Everyday routines are elevated into shared celebrations, giving rhythm and meaning to community life.

Light in form yet profound in spirit, the Climbing the Ladder – Party Amphitheatre carries the weight of local memory while opening space for new traditions. It strengthens connections between people, nature, and culture, revitalizing the orchard and bringing warmth, creativity, and a renewed sense of belonging to rural life.

Project Title: Climbing Amphitheatre
Location: Aiyuan Town, Suqian, Jiangsu Province, China
Project Type: Community Public Space / Rural Revitalization
Program: Outdoor Amphitheatre, Community Gathering Space, Cultural Pavilion
Client: Aiyuan Town Village Committee
Design Period: 2023–2024
Construction Period: 2024
Structural System: Timber frame with steel-timber hybrid joints
Primary Materials: Locally sourced pear wood, galvanized steel connectors, tension straps, waterproof coating
Construction Technique: Prefabricated modular timber components with mortise-and-tenon joints and modern adhesive bonding
Foundation: Reinforced concrete pad footings
Lighting: Low-energy LED system integrated into wooden frames
Environmental Strategy: Use of local materials, manual assembly to minimize machinery impact, reversible structure to preserve farmland integrity