volcano-shaped cabins dot inner mongolia’s steppe at PLAT ASIA’s hotel of arrivals

the project places circular guest suites along a dormant volcanic slope overlooking lakes, grassland, and sandy plains.

thomai tsimpou March 10, 2026 4 min

PLAT ASIA expands the baiyinkulun steppe resort with small suites

PLAT ASIA completes the Volcano-In Hotel of Arrivals, a low-impact hospitality retreat set within the Baiyinkulun Steppe & Volcano Tourism Resort in Inner Mongolia, China. Positioned on the southern slope of a dormant volcanic landscape, the project extends the same tourism development that also includes the studio’s nearby Volcano-In Visitor Center (find designboom’s previous coverage here). Completed in December 2025, the resort hotel disperses a cluster of small, volcanic-shaped guest suites across the fragile grassland terrain, framing panoramic views of the surrounding steppe, lakes, and sandy plains.

The project is composed of compact circular dwellings, their geometry inspired by volcanic cones formed through branching lava flows. Each cabin is clad in reddish metal panels and topped with a cone-like aluminum roof that reflects the stark light of the steppe. Slightly elevated above the ground, the units appear to hover over the terrain while minimizing construction impact. Stone-paved paths made from local volcanic rock link the dispersed suites, reinforcing the sense that the architecture grows out of the geological landscape itself.

volcano-shaped cabins dot inner mongolia's steppe at PLAT ASIA's hotel of arrivals - 1 — all images by Arch-Exist

inner mongolia’s volcanic terrain shapes an ecological hotel

Led by architect Bian Baoyang, the project emerges from long-term geological research into the volcanic terrain of the region, which has undergone roughly 150,000 years of erosion. The design team discovered that wind-driven snow and shifting sand had created depressions across the southern slope where vegetation struggled to grow. The Beijing-based architectural platform positions the cabins directly above these existing sand pits, stabilizing the terrain while allowing ecological recovery. Curved retaining walls act as wind buffers and snow screens, helping retain moisture and improve conditions for plant life in the harsh steppe climate.

Inside the guest suites, PLAT ASIA frames views of the surrounding wilderness through carefully proportioned openings inspired by Chinese scroll paintings. Each room includes an oval skylight above the bed for stargazing, alongside elongated horizontal windows that frame the distant volcanic horizon. The compositions of sky, grassland, lake, and sand unfold like layered landscapes within these frames, encouraging quiet observation of the vast steppe environment.