A quick glance and you’d think we’re looking at a downed UFO in a Martian Landscape, but would you believe it’s actually an art gallery?

Photo by Shengliang Su, Courtesy of Prairie Ark

Finished in 2024, “Prairie Ark” by Büro Ziyu Zhuang or “BUZZ”, seems to be imbedded in the shore of Laolihai Lake in Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia, China. This part of Asia has been known for it’s sprawling steppes and changing Nomadic architecture, so BUZZ designed a form that that pushes against all clichés of the region.

Photo by Shengliang Su, Courtesy of Prairie Ark

It’s design is not exactly Chinese, but not the general International boxes we see in big cities either. Neither contemporary nor ancient. The landscape melts into the roof, allowing visitors to walk directly onto the structure without having to go inside, essentially becoming part of the topography.

Photo by Shengliang Su, Courtesy of Prairie Ark

On a small island on the eastern shore of Laolihai Lake, is the complementary Nomads' Beacon Tower.(above) During seasonal flooding, the tower becomes disconnected from the main Prairie Ark building, spotlighting the theme of remoteness.

Photo by Shengliang Su, Courtesy of Prairie Ark

But these structures aren't just funky buildings designed for an art gallery. The artist residency program launched alongside the opening of the building allows Prairie Ark to not just take up space in an otherwise sparse area, but a space to create and reflect on the history of the region. So in that sense, it does feel like a downed spaceship. Housing creators who take in their surroundings, record it in the way they know best, and share what they learned with the rest of the world.

Photo by Shengliang Su, Courtesy of Prairie Ark

Will you be planning a trip out to Prairie Ark anytime soon?