#HTE

Well damn, for once I’m left quite speechless. Perhaps we should all take a moment to appreciate just how breathtaking this project is. I mean, the sheer scale of it alone is extraordinary, but paired with a dramatic landscape and historically thoughtful architecture, and we are in for a treat!

This is Yangshuo Sugar House, a hotel complex in Southern China’s Guangxi region by Vector Architects. It sits within a col or a small valley along the Yulong River where the epic karst mountains sharply rise and fall.

The design of Yangshuo Sugar House centres on the relationship between old and new. Vector Architects, along with Horizontal Space Design on interiors, transformed the former 1960s sugar mill and worked hard to maintain the integrity of the original site while designing additional contemporary structures for guest rooms. The existing bones and industrial truss have been preserved and a sunken plaza and reflecting pools have been inserted to complement the historic architecture.

Photography by Chen Hao.

To emphasise the dichotomy between man-made and natural elements, the horizontality of the architecture distinctly contrasts with the verticality of the mountains. New building profiles are simple to avoid disharmony with the sugar mill. Hollow concrete block and cast-in-place wood grain concrete serve to make the new buildings more visually transparent and light. These materials are visually attuned to the existing order and also enhance natural light and ventilation.

“In order to create a sense of consistency, instead of simply copying the old materiality and texture, we try to seek this nuance where we use more contemporary materials and construction methods while remaining the tinge and masonry structure of the Old,” said the architects.

Within the vast resort, grounds are a series of gardens and reflecting pools for guests to wander through and take in the splendid scenery. Two pathways service the complex: one is a functional corridor system while the other is a more poetic gesture that weaves through the landscape and built forms. “Wandering around the hotel, guests experience the alternation of light and dark, change of framed landscape view, distance and elevation,” explain the architects.

Along with the sprawling vistas, towering atriums and lengthy passages, there are moments of quiet contemplation in intimate settings. What a joy to roam freely and experience delight at every turn. Vector Architects’ transformation of this industrial site is nothing short of visionary.

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