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Ninghai Resort Hotel

The Ninghai Resort Hotel is conceptualized as an organism comprised of cells, with a unit-to-whole relationship in order to establish a stronger connection with nature. The building is broken down into components which are repeated and reflected to create the whole. The room designed in a basic “L-shape,” forms a cell. When this cell is shifted sideways a void is created: the balcony. These units can then be mirrored and aligned on top of the original creating a three-dimensional pattern of alternating solids and voids; thus creating the whole structure. The structure itself is a part of a whole; a component of the environment. The facade is clad with glazing to provide the utmost transparency to the landscape. Rather than feeling detached from the settings, the guests feel submerged in it. The floor plate at each level is projected to create an overhang for shading and horizontal banding at each level, reminiscent of the traditional Chinese pagodas, providing subliminal familiarity in an unknown environment. At the West Elevation, the horizontality is broken by the verticality of the exposed stairs and elevators. The glazed elevator creates dynamism, as the guest can view the landscape from altering elevations, but also guests in the lobby can see the constant movement of the elevators moving along the facade. The organic shape of the dome and the curve of the main building relates itself to nature. The coolness of the concrete and glazing is complemented with the warmth of wood. 

The Ninghai Resort Hotel is located within a rich landscape of mountains, trees, and water. In order not to disturb the land, the building sits on a smaller footprint and gives back to the land with gardens and ponds. The visual impact of the building is also less imposing with its horizontal emphasis, making the building appear shorter than it is and relates the building back to the line of the land (back to nature). The building’s height on the first two floors were increased so that as many floors as possible could benefit from the view of the lake. The buildings orientation on the site is also significant. The building was curved to project views of the landscape, towards the most attractive area of the site. The orientation allows people to have long-distance vistas, primarily downhill, as opposed to views that are cut short by rising mountains.