GLA design elevates detached hotel cabins amid towering trees in chinese forest

the project includes a reception center and three types of guest rooms, set within a landscape of metasequoia trees and moso bamboo.

GLA Architects edited by thomai tsimpou October 15, 2024 3 min

GLA DESIGN USES CHINESE FOREST AS THEIR HOTEL’S BACKDROP

GLA Design unveils the Dongmingshan Senyu Hotel, an establishment nestled amid the lush greenery of Dongmingshan Forest Park in Hangzhou. The project includes a reception center and different types of detached guest rooms and is set within a landscape of towering metasequoia trees and moso bamboo. The design team wanted to keep the natural environment intact, aiming to achieve minimal ecological impact. Adopting a minimally invasive approach, the buildings preserve the original appearance of the forest and blend in, respecting the woodland. Entering the park, visitors meet the reception center, serving as the most significant element of the hotel. There, floor-to-ceiling windows on the south side frame views of the sequoia forest, and smaller ones on the north allow glimpses of the bamboo grove.

GLA design elevates detached hotel cabins amid towering trees in chinese forest - 1 — all images by Chen Xi Studio, courtesy of GLA Design

THREE ROOM TYPES WELCOME GUESTS IN Dongmingshan Senyu Hotel

Chinese firm GLA Design designed three types for the guest rooms of the Dongmingshan Senyu Hotel. Nestled among the trees, the Pinecone Cabin adopts a modular design to respect the natural terrain and avoid disruption to the forest. Its raised base adapts to the uneven ground of the site, and its form echoes the vertical growth of the sequoia trunks. The Cedar Grove Cabin uses a raised design as well to protect the forest floor, improve ventilation, and minimize disturbances to local wildlife. Its double-sloped roof mirrors the shape of the surrounding trees, while skylights bring natural light into the high-ceilinged space, creating a sense of being within the forest. Similarly, the Bamboo Hut features woven bamboo curtain walls, allowing light to filter through in a way that complements the forest setting.

GLA design elevates detached hotel cabins amid towering trees in chinese forest - 2 — GLA Design unveils the Dongmingshan Senyu Hotel, nestled amid Dongmingshan Forest Park

GLA design elevates detached hotel cabins amid towering trees in chinese forest - 3 — entering the park, visitors meet the reception center

GLA design elevates detached hotel cabins amid towering trees in chinese forest - 4 — the reception building serves as the most significant element of the hotel

GLA design elevates detached hotel cabins amid towering trees in chinese forest - 5 — smaller windows on the north allow glimpses of the bamboo grove

GLA design elevates detached hotel cabins amid towering trees in chinese forest - 6 — the project includes a reception center and different types of detached guest rooms

GLA design elevates detached hotel cabins amid towering trees in chinese forest - 7 — set within a landscape of towering metasequoia trees and moso bamboo

GLA design elevates detached hotel cabins amid towering trees in chinese forest - 8 — the design team wanted to keep the natural environment intact

gla-design-detatched-hotel-cabins-towering-trees-chinese-forest-designboom-1800-03 — adopting a minimally invasive approach

GLA design elevates detached hotel cabins amid towering trees in chinese forest - 9 — minimal ecological impact was the main goal

GLA design elevates detached hotel cabins amid towering trees in chinese forest - 10 — the buildings preserve the original appearance of the forest

gla-design-detatched-hotel-cabins-towering-trees-chinese-forest-designboom-1800-02 — floor-to-ceiling windows on the south side frame views of the sequoia forest

chinese firm GLA Design designed three types for the guest rooms double-sloped roofs mirror the shape of the surrounding trees allowing light to filter through in a way that complements the forest setting the Cedar Grove Cabin uses a raised design as well to protect the forest floo three types of guest rooms are found in the Dongmingshan Senyu Hotel the materials create a warm atmosphere inside the cabins the design improves ventilation and minimizes disturbances to local wildlife the Pinecone Cabin adopts a modular design to respect the natural terrain its raised base adapts to the uneven ground of the site the Bamboo Hut features woven bamboo curtain walls nestled amid lush greenery

project info:

name: Dongmingshan Senyu Hotel
architect: GLA Design
location: Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

photographer: Chen Xi Studio | @xichen_photo

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