Hi Ladders High: A Pavilion Designed and Built by Kids

Creating a New World for Left-Behind Children

Hi Ladders High is a non-profit project launched in the summer of 2018. In the Summer Camp of Tanghe Primary School in Luotian County, Hubei Province, One Take Architects and college volunteers, together with left-behind children designed and built this pavilion. Kid without professional architectural training could be involved in the whole process of designing and building, which is what we call 'an indeterminate participatory open ended situation'.

The architects and children collectively made Hi Ladders High into a stage for a three-act space drama where events such as a carnival or camp closing ceremony take place. The children interact with Hi Ladders High not only by playing games in the structure, but also by making changes to it through their creation. As an indeterminate building, the blank part of Hi Ladders High can only be filled by its users, that is, the children of the construction camp. The children proposed over a dozen ideas for Hi Ladders High. One of them even sketched 15 designs all by himself.

Hi Ladders High consists of twenty independent wooden ladders. This kind of ladder is one of the most common and easily accessible tools in China’s rural areas. Its main body is cut or polished from China fir. Since each ladder has a completely independent and relatively stable structure with a highly adjustable angle of inclination, these ladders present plenty of possibilities of spatial combination. Even children without professional architectural training could be involved in the whole process of designing and building.

Located at Tanghe Primary School in Luotian County, Hubei Province, China, Hi Ladders High was completed in a short timeframe during the summer camp. The design team, including Wang Xiaoyang, Kang Wei, Zhou Xueer, Cai Xinyuan, worked closely with the children to bring their ideas to life.

Hi Ladders High is an innovative and low-cost solution that aims to provide an open-ended and participatory space for left-behind children. By involving them in the design and construction process, it empowers them to explore their creativity and view the world from a new perspective. This non-profit project not only creates a unique pavilion but also fosters a sense of ownership and pride among the children.

This outstanding design has been recognized with the Bronze A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building, and Structure Design category in 2020. The award acknowledges the creativity and resourcefulness of Hi Ladders High, which incorporates best practices in art, science, design, and technology. It is a testament to the strong technical and creative skills of the design team and their contribution to improving the quality of life for left-behind children.