A ruined training center of state-owned enterprise is renovated to be an oriental esthetics hotel in the main road of Mount Wuyi Resort, Fujian Province of China.
As much as the hotel honors historical Chinese traditions and culture in Mount Wuyi, it keeps unbreakable focus on the experiential demands in today’s hospitality market, especially for ‘quieter’ retreats, offering a serene environment in which to fully experience tea culture and a viewfinder into local artisanship.
Intensive study of the content of “Seclusiveness, Buddhism and Tea Culture” becomes keywords in this case, which is summarized as “poetic charm, tea drinking and Dao talking”. The design intends to merge Chinese tea culture with Buddhism esthetics reaching out of YUE (happiness) within comfort, relax and pleasant spaces.
Architectural outdoor design keeps on Anhui building style of white wall and gray tiles. Elements such as hall, wall, corridor, terrace and courtyard are connected with natural stones, water, bamboo, and woods to form spatial pattern. Private space is enclosed by wall and corridor provides shelter and perfect point for visitors enjoying pleasant scene especially in the rain. Wood materials recycled from abandoned houses are reused to keep the memory of the past as well as realizing of low carbon construction. Over 100 old trees are retained in site.
Tea culture is decomposed into the hotel spaces. Visitors may see, feel, listen, smell, taste, and get consciousness of tea culture expressions. This output of culture and life style combining with mild climate in Mount Wuyi creates a warm atmosphere both indoors and outdoors, forming a comfortable, healthy environment. There is an omnipresent attention to helping guests achieve contentedness.