z'scape restores hotel site in china with amphitheater + lush, native garden

Two water features were also installed on-site. The first is a circular pond that collects rainwater for irrigation, helps nourish aquatic plants, and attracts wildlife. Meanwhile, a rectangular water feature is hidden among the plants on the eastern border.

wooden path weaving through the native growth | image © Holi Landscape Photography

At the northern end of the ‘Wilderness Garden’, a lower and rather open and flat lot sat untouched for years, with a 6-meter drop, inaccessible to people. ‘When we first arrived here, we had an idea that there should be a natural stage which blends with the land, where people can feel the wind and rain, the sun, the moon, the stars, insects and birds. Children can run and play freely, and visitors could quietly look at the snow-capped mountains. The most beautiful songs and dances under the snow mountains can be carried out there, and the most sacred celebrations of the Naxi people can be offered on the stage as well. There would be no need for bright lights or setting, nature is the best stage,’ notes Z’scape.

The 1,500-square meter amphitheater therefore took shape, enclosed by a circular ramp and a terraced platform that can be reached from the wooden footpath, echoing the image of Yunnan’s stepped rice fields through a contemporary design.

stepped platforms with wooden benches | image © Holi Landscape Photography

While designing the outdoor stage, the architects slowly raised two ‘ridges’ from the ground, turning them into slopes and terraces. At the same time, a wooden path made of recycled sleepers was embedded in the ground with benches made of old timber. Various landscape elements were later integrated to outline the amphitheater. Gullies, slopes, and platforms also appear in the large circular space, blending in with nature. The traditional Naxi Torch Festival is held here annually, where people pay tribute to the snow mountain and ancient folk traditions and pray for a good harvest. Dances and songs around the bonfire echo throughout the Alpine Garden, becoming a haven for residents and visitors alike.

‘The Wilderness Garden and Amphitheater are an exploration of our landscape design practice. The design technique uses a few simple and light strokes to create a poetic space that blends with the land and environment. The project created an original and artistic space with vitality, establishing a contrast and integration between the wild and disorderly nature and the artificially geometric order. In the overly synthetic modern world, the natural succession of wilderness landscapes brings a touch of hope for green to people. A true wilderness landscape is a habitat for local plants and animals to flourish, then a landscape place for human users to rest and enjoy. In the timeline of the changing seasons, we witness the process of natural restoration and touch the souls of people with the primitive power of the land itself,’ concludes Z’scape.