Juxtaposed Maze - Xirang Hotel
Nestled within a network of interconnected fishponds, the Xirang Hotel occupies a site framed by contrasting contexts with the mist shrouded Taihu Lake to the east, the Shatanggang Canal to the north, Zhushan Mountain to the south, and a bustling community market to the west. Confronting such diversified contextual fabric, we attempt to establish a mechanism that externally responds to all four orientations, while internally evoking the sensibilities of vernacular spatial experiences.
The courtyard serves as the elementary unit regarding the layout organization. It is tailored to a specific function, which embodies a distinct natural theme and atmosphere. Through the horizontal and vertical arrangements, these courtyards aggregate into a cohesive cluster with fragmented and context-sensitive volumes, forming a sequence of nodes with varied identities.
A covered verandah system threads through nine courtyards at the ground level, stretching from the western edge to the eastern periphery. The ground elevation delineates the contours of the original terrain, sloping down eastward to merge with a pond at the foot of the hillside, creating a subtle half-level microtopography. Horizontal eaves crowning the brick-clad volumes cascade stepwise from Zhushan Mountain toward the canal, culminating in a glass-brick light tower at the river’s edge. These understated profiles, combined with vertical circulation paths and volumetric interplay, compose a three-dimensional promenade system.
Each courtyard is conceived as a microcosm defined by unique qualities of light, airflow, scale, scenery, and ambiance. Shifting space interfaces and chiaroscuro effects orchestrate the body movement through changing perspectives, framing intricate relationships and montage-like transitions between these miniature worlds. Daylight permeates the western courtyard, animating a series of intimate gardens. The Raindrop Atrium is anchored by a 16-meter-high circular bronze funnel that channels rainwater through its eaves. It serves as the pivotal nexus in the complex, connecting courtyards on all four sides. To the east, the expansive Camphor Courtyard opens toward Taihu Lake, edged by guest room corridors screened with double-level height copper mesh. Along the canal, a 24-meter-high glass-brick light tower mirrors the shifting hues of the sky.
Distant vistas of lake, river, mountain, and market are selectively framed through strategic apertures, while layered natural elements and perspectival spaces overlapped. Nearby slender columns, planar walls, and overhanging eaves act as viewfinders, capturing glimpses of shimmering water, swaying foliage, and drifting boats. Every now and then, visitors navigate a choreography of shifting scenes where reality and imagination oscillate, immersed within an ever-unfolding spatial narrative.
CREDITS
Architecture/Interior (public area)/ Landscape Design: Vector Architects
Principal Architect: Dong Gong
Project Architect: Guan Shipeng
Site Architect: Jiang Ming
Design Management: Zhao Liangliang, Feng Chaoying
Construction Management: Zhao Liangliang, Li Jinteng
Design Team: Li Shuyang, Yan Xu, Jiang Ming, Ma Xiaokai, Huang Tianzhi, Wang Ying, Weng Qicheng, Mao Bo, Li Mofei, Huang Xiongshen
