DAS lab builds the lost villa boutique hotel on the banks of the yellow river in china

positioned on the banks of the yellow river in dawan village, china, DAS lab has completed the ‘lost villa’ boutique hotel complex. rather than impose a striking landmark on the site, the project draws from local architecture to create a series of buildings that blend into the landscape, balancing the man-made with the natural environment.  

all images © su shengliang/schran studio 

the hotel is made up of 15 rooms, each of which is injected with a specific characteristic in addition to framed views of the yellow river on one side, or the forest on the other. by creating different room types, DAS lab has tried to experiment with various models, scales and materials to explore the relationship between human and nature.

in reference to local houses, the hotel is designed with flat roofs, terraces, external courtyards and deep reed-topped eaves to encourage outdoor activities within the shaded gallery space. the design team utilized a special treatment of cement mortar on the exterior walls to recreate the texture of rammed earth from local architecture, so the buildings will look beautifully ‘old’ after being exposed to wind and rain.

dawan village is located in the east longitude of 105.19 and the north latitude of 37.50. the lowest temperature in winter reaches minus 20°C, therefore, apart from the large floor-to-ceiling windows facing the landscape, the other façades have few openings. by doing this, DAS lab re-examines the relationship between openings, light and space to create welcoming yet private apartments.

light plays a key role in the interiors of the hotel. with the pared-back use of color and decoration, the visual display of light and shadow takes center stage as it changes throughout the day. this can be seen especially in the covered gallery spaces, as the shadow of the reed cladding creates beautiful patterns on the external walls.

inside, the living, dining and kitchen areas are open-plan yet still provide an intimate atmosphere due to the limited windows. outdoor space is also a key element of the design with accessible rooftops and terraces affording guests to dine or relax outside. overall, DAS lab has created a very humble architecture that provides a warm and welcoming hotel stay.

project info:

project name: lost villa boutique hotel in zhongwei, ningxia

location: shapotou district, zhongwei, ningxia, china

client: ningxia zhongwei lost villa hotel management ltd.

architecture and interior design: DAS lab

principal designer: li jingze

design team: janet, xiang guo, duan jinjin, lu zhangyu

key materials: concrete, terrazzo, wood veneer, solid board

area: 21,527.82 ft2 (2000 m2)

design period: december 2017 – april 2018

construction period: may 2018 – march 2019

photography: su shengliang/schran studio 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.