Kimpton Hotels, the flagship brand within the luxury boutique segment of the InterContinental Hotels Group, is celebrated for its seamless blend of cultural narratives and tailored resort experiences. With Huangshan’s profound cultural legacy and its iconic, poetic landscapes, the region has emerged as the ideal backdrop for this distinguished brand. Meng Fanhao, co-founder and lead architect at line+, was invited to spearhead the design of the Kimpton Hotel in Huangshan, bringing his cross-disciplinary experience in cultural and resort architecture along with a fresh, innovative perspective. As the project’s chief architect, he is responsible for the conceptualization and full execution of the design process. Having successfully passed the detailed evaluations of both Century Golden Resources Group and InterContinental Hotels Group, the project is set to break ground later this year.
"My vision for the Kimpton Huangshan goes beyond constructing a modern dwelling. I aim to stir emotional resonance through the immersive experience of the space, continuing the evolving spirit of contemporary Huizhou." — Meng Fanhao
The hotel is in Xiuli Ancient Town, often described as “a painting-like Huizhou, a village in southern Anhui,” and is near historic villages such as Xidi and Hongcun. The mere mention of Huizhou evokes iconic architectural imagery—horse-head walls, whitewashed facades, and dark-tiled roofs.
The hotel is in Xiuli Ancient Town, often described as “a painting-like Huizhou, a village in southern Anhui,” and is near historic villages such as Xidi and Hongcun. The mere mention of Huizhou evokes iconic architectural imagery—horse-head walls, whitewashed facades, and dark-tiled roofs.
01 Shaping the New Spirit of Huizhou Settlements
Huizhou’s traditional settlements are marked by dense clustering, strong ancestral bonds, and an inherent sense of spatial order influenced by the natural topography. The architecture is characterized by modest, yet precise proportions, with courtyards and alleyways designed to a human scale, creating an intimate and welcoming atmosphere.
The design draws inspiration from the fundamental elements of Huizhou dwellings—courtyards, skywells, and alleyways—reinterpreting them as architectural prototypes for spatial organization. Among these, the skywell stands out. In traditional Huizhou houses, the skywell served practical functions such as lighting, drainage, and ventilation, but it also embodied a profound cultural metaphor: the idea of "converging four waters into the hall," symbolizing harmony and unity within the household.
The site itself presents a strikingly varied topography, with steep slopes, gentle inclines, and a valley, creating an elevation difference of up to 30 meters. The layout of the hotel responds to this dramatic landscape, using the natural terrain and the varying vistas of sunlight—at sunrise, midday, and sunset—as guides to shape the spatial sequences of the hotel.
The eastern highland, with its open vistas, offers views of the sunrise, making it ideal for outward-facing public spaces. To the north, the view unfolds to reveal a panoramic scene of rolling mountains and the close-knit, ancient villages below—where nature and culture coexist harmoniously. In contrast, the western valley is more inward-looking, shrouded in peaceful solitude and dense with tall poplar trees. This seclusion fosters a quiet, reflective atmosphere. The layout, therefore, follows the natural contours of the land: public spaces are positioned to the east, while the guestroom clusters gradually transition westward.
The architectural organization mirrors the traditional grouping found in Huizhou villages, where buildings are organized into clusters, linked by alleys, and capped with inward-sloping roofs.
Below these roofs, a series of skywells and courtyards seamlessly guide the transition between private and public, exterior and interior, creating both singular and dynamic spatial experiences.
02 Layered Courtyards & Fragmented Public Spaces
The public spaces are arranged along the canyon landscape, with the arrival and reception zones forming the entry sequence. To the east, elevated terraces open to expansive views, accommodating gathering areas like restaurants and banquet halls. This design not only maximizes the site's scenic potential but also emphasizes the outward-focused experience of the space.
Dining is a signature offering of Kimpton Hotels, and it has been placed at the easternmost end of the site, where it enjoys a high degree of independence and the best possible views. To the west, a more secluded, gently sloping plateau is devoted to wellness and leisure spaces, providing a more intimate and tranquil atmosphere.
At the heart of the public buildings are skywells, opening toward the sky to bring in natural light and establish an inwardly focused, contemplative atmosphere. The spatial arrangement within the clusters adheres to a rhythm of symmetry and layered courtyards, breaking down larger volumes into fragmented, terrace-like forms that enhance spatial continuity and openness.
A network of corridors and partial walls weaves through the site, shaping additional outdoor viewing platforms and seamlessly connected pathways. This design echoes the spatial choreography of traditional Huizhou settlements, where streets and alleys unfold in a carefully measured rhythm of compression and release.
The material selection alternates between plaster and stone, crafting a facade with a visually dynamic, artistic composition. The plaster finish is an experimental material, chosen for its tactile, handcrafted quality and enhanced waterproofing properties, ensuring both aesthetic appeal and durability.
03 Adapting the Terrain, Optimizing Capacity
With seven room typologies and a total of 135 units, the clustered guestroom layout presents a significant spatial challenge, further compounded by the complexities of the canyon terrain.
The asymmetrical U-shaped site features distinct topographical variations: the northeastern ridge rises prominently before sloping down on both sides, the southeastern slope descends uniformly, while the southwestern terrain cascades unevenly into the valley, forming an irregular, stepped landscape.
This diverse topography offers unique opportunities for guestroom views and spatial experiences while demanding a careful balance between seamless integration with the natural landscape and the optimization of architectural volumes.
Traditional Huizhou dwellings are characterized by deep floor plans and compact skywells, a spatial configuration that optimizes light, ventilation, and privacy. Adopting this typological framework, the design situates skywells along one side of each guestroom unit. When two units are symmetrically paired, the skywell space effectively doubles, generating courtyards of varying scales that enhance natural illumination and airflow while maximizing land efficiency. By integrating two room typologies or utilizing the site's natural elevation to vertically stack three interconnected layouts, the design forms four distinct guestroom clusters, ensuring both spatial coherence and adaptability to the terrain.
The guestroom clusters follow a linear arrangement along both sides of the primary circulation route, responding to topographical and sightline considerations. On sloped terrain, the rooms are terraced downward from higher elevations, ensuring that each level enjoys uninterrupted panoramic views. Within the valley, controlled spacing between guestroom clusters minimizes visual intrusion, enhancing privacy while preserving a sense of openness and connection to the landscape.
04 Huizhou Spirit, Poetic Dwelling
Nestled in Xiuli, the cultural heartland of Huizhou, where mountains and rivers intertwine in a landscape imbued with natural spirit and human heritage, the Kimpton Huangshan is envisioned as more than a contemporary retreat. It is conceived as a poetic dialogue between space and memory, emotion and experience. This poetic quality is not merely an aesthetic pursuit but emerges from an abstract spatial order, designed to evoke a deep-seated emotional resonance through the experience of place.
Through an architectural reinterpretation of space, form, and materiality, line+ crafts an atmosphere of effortless tranquility and immersive storytelling, offering guests an experience that lingers beyond their stay. Within the interplay of light and shadow, the rhythm of alleyways, and the seamless interaction between spaces, the design reestablishes an intrinsic connection between people and nature, individuals and culture. Every tree, every wall, every tile becomes a narrative element, collectively composing a new chapter in the evolving story of Huizhou.
Project Name: Kimpton Huangshan
Architectural and Landscape Design: line+ studio
Website: www.lineplus.studio
Contanct: pr@lineplus.studio
Chief Architect/Project Principal: Meng Fanhao
Design Team:
Concept Design Phase: He Yaliang, Su Kelun, Zhu Xiaojing, Yang Hanyue, Xu Hao, Xing Shu, Yang Xuejian, Han Yuyan, Li Renjie, Chen Yiqi
Design Development Phase: Su Kelun, He Yaliang, Shou Chengbin, Shen Rui, Yang Hanyue, Chen Yiqi, Xing Shu, Jiang Hong, Chen Qianzhen
Development Organization: Century Golden Resources - Tengyun Zhuke - Huangshan Yujian Future Development Co., Ltd.
Client Team: Chen Yiqi, Ma Shenshen, Guo Rongbin, Ye Mingchao, Lu Xin, Li Zhi
Hotel Operator: InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG)
Construction Drawing Design: Shanghai Zhongfang Architectural Design Co., Ltd.
Location: Yixian County, Huangshan City, Anhui
Building Area: 24200 m²
Design Period: 2022.08 – Present
Structure: Reinforced Concrete, Steel Structure
Materials: Glass, Rough Stone, Wood, Terracotta Tiles
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