202 village guesthouses emerge from forested hunan as natural peaks

sited in a contemporary hot spring spa and villa complex, the 202 village guesthouses bring together modern and traditional living in china‘s hunan province. architects john lin and olivier ottevaere at the university of hong kong, employ an architectural strategy that combines traditional craft and experimental techniques in a blend of research and design. with a long history dating back to the year 202 AD, the resort hotel is located in a valley that has been only accessible by boat until recent years. bamboo forests are common and a rich tradition of bamboo crafts and basket weaving is part of this area’s cultural heritage.

situated along the side of a steep valley sloping down to the river, 202 village guesthouses reveal themselves gradually. the architecture, by john lin and olivier ottevaere at the university of hong kong, at first appears to be a series of peaks and valleys, made in timber and concrete. upon entering the reception center from the roof level, the view opens up to the historic river valley, framed by an undulating roof that has been cast with bamboo and fabric formwork. built half in concrete and half in wood, the structure is an unusual combination of crafting with local materials and typical low-cost concrete construction. the natural qualities of the bamboo become apparent where the combination of soft fabric and the irregularity of the bamboo poles creates a moving ‘curtain’ of concrete that is reminiscent of the bamboo forests nearby.

the views of the valley continue to be framed in close up and distant ways through the arrangement of the 202 village guesthouses. the resort consists of seven villas, each one designed as a further research and evolution of the traditional dong minority wooden house construction. the traditional frame structure of the dong craftspeople is retained, but combined in a unique set of floor plans. because of the highly constrained nature of the mountainous site, only a limited number of building locations was available. therefore, each villa orients itself towards a unique and private view, while combining variations of single and multiple family units.