The complex is located in the region of Zhejiang and includes seven buildings that are strung out along a path in an apparently haphazard arrangement. At its heart there is a central building with the reception and eating facilities. Guest are housed in five separated buildings terraced on the hillside and allowing privileged views of the scenic landscape. All the buildings are remarkably integrated in their context, they are systematic and at the same time each of them show elements of singularity.
The project promotes the region sustainable development through employing local labor for the construction and the use of locally sourced materials like bamboo, red bricks, stone or carbonized wood which makes the project physically and culturally tactful. The architects make also use of vernacular construction techniques like the rammed-earth wall elaborated by using local soil.
These walls are used to define and enclose privates spaces of the guest houses like bedrooms and bathrooms, the introspective character of these parts is relieved by large areas of glazing in the living room, an interesting counterpoint that could be read as a part of the game of opposites that defines the whole project, occluded yet transparent, autonomous yet contextual.
- Project:
- Origin Villa
- Location:
- Dashan Village, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Program:
- Retreat Village – 4 Guesthouse 15 Rooms, 2 Public Buildings
- Architects:
- Kooo Architects
- Design team:
- Shinya Kojima, Ayaka Kojima, Kotaro Kitakami, Yan Zhao, Zhide Hu
- Client:
- Hangzhou Origin Villa Hotel ＆ Resort, co.
- Site area:
- 660 sqm
- Total floor area:
- 1400 sqm