Stop in at Prairie ArkInner Mongolia, China

You don’t expect to find something that looks like a landed spacecraft in the middle of the Inner Mongolian grasslands. Yet on the shores of Lake Laoli near Ulanqab, Prairie Ark manages to do exactly that.

Created by architecture studio BUZZ | Büro Ziyu Zhuang, the futuristic gallery has been designed to feel like an extension of the landscape rather than a building imposed upon it. One edge disappears beneath the earth while the other rises from the prairie, creating a sweeping roof that visitors can wander across as they take in the surrounding grasslands.

The experience begins before you even step inside. Entrances are tucked into the terrain, making the journey into the gallery feel more like discovering a hidden chamber than visiting a traditional cultural institution. Once below ground level, open exhibition spaces, skylights and flexible layouts allow the venue to host everything from art shows and lectures to community events.

Across the lake, the project continues with the Nomadic Beacon Tower. Drawing inspiration from historic watchtowers, the structure doubles as an observation point, rewarding visitors who make the climb with uninterrupted views across the vast steppe. During seasonal flooding, the tower can become partially isolated by water, adding another layer to the site's sense of remoteness.

Prairie Ark is the latest project from BUZZ founder Ziyu Zhuang, whose work often explores the relationship between architecture, storytelling and the natural environment. Here, the result is a cultural space that feels at home in one of China's most dramatic landscapes while offering a glimpse of what architecture might look like in the future.

And yes, it really does look a bit like a UFO.

---