lacime architects integrates luxury resort into chinese mountain scenery

lacime architects placed a luxury resort on the water within the jinhua mountain, china, as if to integrate the scenery of the four seasons into the architecture. the designers attempted to let the architecture of the moma lotus resort and the surrounding landscape combine with heaven and earth to perceive the seasons changing.

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the architects designed the building to humbly peer out of the landscape, and then become perfected by time. for example, the appearance of villages and buddha statues is the result of human activities and behaviors in nature throughout different periods, and eventually they become integrated with nature.

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with characteristic features, the resort complements yet stands out from its surroundings. the roof of the building is an upward sloping roof with the highest point defined in the southeast corner of the site, which also solves the function setting of local two floors. under the roof, the function is completely divided and separated, and the courtyard is embedded to blur the boundary between inside and outside.

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water elements are designed both inside and outside the courtyard, so that with reflections in the water, people can experience the zen garden in the exterior and enjoy the different scenery and climate of the mountains from its interior. the building is decorated in two colors, with a grey exterior wall and wooden interiors. the tapestry bricks are collaged in the form of hollow brick walls, covered with small grey-green roof tiles, so as to present a humble and calm atmosphere against the background of the countryside.

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the materials of the inner courtyard adopt a large number of wooden-colored aluminum plates and glass, which warm up under the sunshine. the interior and exterior materials are transitioning under the cornice, the wooden color of the suspended ceiling extends outside, reflecting in the water, and grey bricks are used around the corridor and courtyard. the patio adopts imported merbau logs to create the traditional scene of ‘rain flowing into the patio from all sides’, in the style of anhui folk houses. the construction process becomes a dialogue between ancient and modern times.

image © schran images

the resort’s guests can enjoy an extensive mountain view, with rooms arranged to the south and east, where the buddha can be worshipped. the rooms on the second floor of the building are arranged horizontally, resulting in an internal walkway, and skylights appear naturally. the lighting from the top extends to the position of the stairs, forming several rectangular windows, and an unexpected vivid space appears as the light changes.

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the building’s function and character becomes stronger when placed in its context and when being utilized by the guests. lacime architects integrated the chinese zen and tea culture, provides multiple spaces with enough scale in height and breadth, and incorporates the natural landscape and cultural elements into architectural design. it is left to different users to experience the relaxation of life state or the sublimation of zen philosophy.

image © schran images

project info:

project name: moma lotus resort, jiuhua mountain

project location: jiuhua mountain, chizhou, anhui, china

project type: hotel

owner: modern land (anhui)

the owner team: tu lijun, wei shixing, wang qi, sheng jin

architectural design: lacime architects

chief designer: song zhaoqing, xiong xing

design team: lin qionghua, wei yiming, wang jun, zhang zhiwu

construction drawing design: anhui horizon design

landscape design: s.p.i landscape group

interior design: pal design group

decoration design: h design

floor area: 2850 m2

time of completion: may, 2019

architectural photography: schran images

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edited by: cristina gomez | designboom