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Neri&Hu completes Hainan Island wellness retreat inspired by ancient Chinese cities

2023-10-25T11:51:00-04:00

Neri&Hu has completed a wellness hotel on China’s Hainan Island. Named the Sanya Wellness Retreat, the scheme draws inspiration from the ancient Chinese walled city, which was typically elevated on a heavy plinth and surrounded by water. The resulting hotel is defined by two parts: a wooden dwelling comprising guest rooms and a masonry base beneath containing all public spaces.

Image credit: Chen Hao

The L-shaped building forms a water courtyard at the intersection of the two wings, serving a central feature from which all the hotel’s public amenities spread outwards. Meanwhile, the lobby forms a “garden landscape with a floating lantern hovering above that allows a gentle light to filter in,” while ceilings are lowered to frame views towards the sea.

Image credit: Chen Hao

“At every given opportunity, the design tries to embody the genius loci of Hainan, to blend elements from the island’s collective memory, culture, and natural features,” ...

A new research lab by CLOU highlights the growing demand for agricultural tourism in southern China

2021-08-19T11:52:00-04:00

Images have been unveiled for a new multi-functional Chinese agriculture and exhibition center that will transform the Nanfan High Tech District in the tropical Hainan Island city of Sanya into a scientific research hub.

CLOU Architects is behind the 4,000-square-meter (43,055-square-foot) Sanya Farm Lab that will capitalize on the local government’s investment into horticulture and food science with an integrated four-story showcase of innovation.

Image courtesy Shining Laboratory

Highlighted by a graticular glass and timber truss facade, the Lab fluidly incorporates a raised outdoor plaza into the building’s first two floors that is meant to “blur traditional boundaries between nature and city,” as it simultaneously “narrows the distance between technology and life,” according to the architect.

Image courtesy Shining Laboratory

The 31-inch-deep roof grid structure will help reduce the building’s sunlight absorption by 70%. The firm was very particular about developing a plan that w...