treehouses, boat houses, and pumpkin cottages scatter along wuhan’s lakeshore

this treehouse resort expands along houguan lake in wuhan, china, immersing guests into trees, water, and nature.

Eric Podolsky edited by christina vergopoulou June 12, 2026 4 min

Nature-Oriented Resort Embedded in Wuhan’s Lakeside Landscape

Located on the north shore of Houguan Lake in Wuhan, Wuhan Urban Construction Kaiyuan Senbo Resort is Central China’s first integrated suburban resort featuring iconic ‘Giant Banyan Treehouse’ hotel rooms. Developed by DAHLIN Architecture, the resort integrates architecture with nature, offering six distinctive room types, including treehouses, boat houses, and pumpkin carriage cottages, creating an immersive natural living experience. All units prioritize water views. The project leverages the forest and lake landscape along the north shore of Houguan Lake, adopting a village-like layout that allows the buildings to follow the water’s edge in a scattered arrangement, creating a tranquil atmosphere of a meandering settlement.

treehouses, boat houses, and pumpkin cottages scatter along wuhan’s lakeshore - 1 — all images courtesy of DAHLIN Architecture

DAHLIN weaves Treehouses, Boat Houses, and Cabins Among Trees

The Forest Treehouses appear to grow organically among trees with timber structures, cantilevered platforms, and vast windows framing the scenery. The whimsical Pumpkin Cottages, shaped like dewdrops by the lakeside, strike a balance between function and aesthetics. The Stargazing Cabins have curved roofs and skylights, creating an immersive stargazing experience. The Waterfront Boat House blends traditional boat-dwelling concepts with modern ecological wisdom, offering a retreat where guests can rest to the sound of gentle waves and breezes.

The design team at DAHLIN Architecture opts for natural materials for the overall aesthetic. Breathable fish-scale wood shingles, durable PE thatch, and warm red cedar cladding ensure the buildings visually and physically connect to the land. From concept to completion, meticulous execution ensured the architecture grew naturally from the site. This project represents a return to nature, integrating guests into the living landscape.

treehouses, boat houses, and pumpkin cottages scatter along wuhan’s lakeshore - 2 — Wuhan Urban Construction Kaiyuan Senbo Resort occupies the north shore of Houguan Lake

treehouses, boat houses, and pumpkin cottages scatter along wuhan’s lakeshore - 3 — the resort combines forest, water, and architecture within a lakeside setting

treehouses, boat houses, and pumpkin cottages scatter along wuhan’s lakeshore - 4 — a village-like layout follows the contours of the shoreline

treehouses, boat houses, and pumpkin cottages scatter along wuhan’s lakeshore - 5 — buildings are arranged in a scattered composition along the water’s edge

treehouses, boat houses, and pumpkin cottages scatter along wuhan’s lakeshore - 6 — treehouse hotel rooms are integrated within the existing forest landscape

dahlin-architecture-treehouse-wuhan-urban-construction-kaiyuan-senbo-resort-houguan-lake-china-designboom-1800-1 — elevated timber structures frame views toward the lake

treehouses, boat houses, and pumpkin cottages scatter along wuhan’s lakeshore - 7 — cantilevered platforms extend into the surrounding canopy

treehouses, boat houses, and pumpkin cottages scatter along wuhan’s lakeshore - 8 — the Forest Treehouses appear nestled among mature trees

treehouses, boat houses, and pumpkin cottages scatter along wuhan’s lakeshore - 9 — Pumpkin Cottages take the form of rounded lakeside volumes

dahlin-architecture-treehouse-wuhan-urban-construction-kaiyuan-senbo-resort-houguan-lake-china-designboom-1800-3 — Stargazing Cabins feature curved roof profiles and integrated skylights

treehouses, boat houses, and pumpkin cottages scatter along wuhan’s lakeshore - 10 — Waterfront Boat Houses reinterpret traditional waterside dwellings

treehouses, boat houses, and pumpkin cottages scatter along wuhan’s lakeshore - 11 — timber, cedar, and thatch establish a natural material palette

project info:

name: Wuhan Urban Construction Kaiyuan Senbo Resort
architect: DAHLIN Architecture | Planning | Interiors | @dahlin_architecture

location: Wuhan, Hubei, China

site area: 6.2 acres

building area: 80,000 sqft

number of units: 37

architect of record: Wuhan Zhenhua Architecture Design Co., Ltd. ZHDI (Architectural LDI)

owner/developer: Wuhan Urban Construction Kaiyuan Senbo Resort Co., Ltd.

interior design companies: WJD Design – Endless Mind, WJD Design – Invisible Essence

theme packaging company: Vale Art

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