STUDIO QI builds the 'stray bird' boutique hotel on the yellow river in china

situated in the tengger desert of china‘s ningxia hui autonomous region, STUDIO QI has designed the ‘stray bird’ boutique hotel as a place for relaxation and leisurely experiences. with it’s impressive location, just 10 meters from the yellow river, the project has been developed to create a series of ecological and airy structures in response to the surrounding natural landscape. employing high quality construction and prefabrication, the resulting spaces intend to immerse tourists in a chinese oasis.  

all images © qingshan wu

the hotel has been developed by QI as a series of individual units, giving guests a very personal experience. the program of these modules is split into just three functions: sitting, standing and sleeping. with the most importance given to sitting and sleeping, these spaces bookend the floor plan, with the ‘standing’ circulation and services compartmentalized into a central area. thanks to the large expanses of glass that characterize the architecture, the zones are all visually connected, with users able to see straight from end to the another, and then on to the surrounding desert landscape.

view of the rear elevation

considering the constraints of transportation, the structure of the units is made from a 14 meter x 4.5 meter steel frame format. externally, the modules extend into the landscape by an entrance deck and front terrace, allowing guests to enjoy the outdoors. once inside, the interiors are characterized by high-quality finishes, ensuring a luxury spatial experience. a glass curtain wall system has also been implemented, connecting the living spaces with the impressive natural environment. 

overall view of the desert landscape

on the rear façade, privacy is afforded by the introduction of perforated metal cladding. these pre-fabricated metal panels allow for the continual interactions between the inside and outside via light and shadows, in keeping with the concept of the project. overall, with themes of transparency and luxury, the design of the ‘stray bird’ hotel blurs the boundaries between architecture and nature, inviting guests to immerse themselves in the grand landscape of china.  

the development is positioned just 10 meters from the yellow river

the perforated metal casts shadows of the surrounding nature

a hotel module viewed at night

sleeping area

standing area

sitting area

sectional view

sectional perspective

sectional view of the living accommodation

project info:

project name: ‘stray bird’

location: SUJI yellow river, dawan village, changle town, shapotou, zhongwei, the ningxia hui autonomous region, china

architect: STUDIO QI

architect in lead: shanshan qi

project team: mengfan zhou, yuting zhao, ping yang, xinhua ban (intern)

client: stray bird

floor area: 4306 ft2 (400 m2)

completion date: 01.01.2019

additional credits:

structure manufacture: zhongpu construction technology, co., ltd

curtain wall: ERIC construction technology, co., ltd

interior construction: UHJOH

furniture design: lastisland

photography: qingshan wu

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.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom