XAA Janson Xian Architect + Associates: Winner of World Design Awards 2024. Baiyun Mountain, one of the famed mountains of South China, has long been praised as “the first scenic beauty of Yangcheng.” The name “Baiyun” (White Cloud) comes from the breathtaking sight of white clouds that often drape the mountains after rain or in late spring, making it a marvel to behold.

01 Secluded Haven Amid Mountains and Waters

Oriental Resort Guangzhou is located at the foot of Baiyun Mountain, by the shores of Jinzhong Lake. The hotel offers a serene retreat surrounded by nature, with the majestic Baiyun Mountain as its backdrop and the tranquil lake spread out in front. The hotel includes multiple guest rooms and suites, banquet halls, Chinese restaurant, infinity pool, fitness center, indoor tennis court, conference center, and more. The Bitian Building, incorporates both new structures and renovated original buildings. Designed in a modern Lingnan style, the hotel provides panoramic views of Baiyun Mountain’s lush peaks and the scenic elegance of Jinzhong Lake.

02 Embracing Nature with a Design that Follows the Terrain

Lingnan traditional architecture has always emphasized harmony with nature, adapting to the terrain and natural environment. Buildings are typically constructed facing water and backed by mountains, with structures adapted to the slopes. Bitian Building inherits this traditional Lingnan layout, making full use of the natural surroundings of Baiyun Mountain. The building’s form rises in tiers along the mountainside, with its front open to Jinzhong Lake. The main entrance faces the lake, offering expansive views, while the rest platforms extend towards the water’s edge.

03 Ravines and Waterscapes: A Poetic Lingnan

The architectural design of Bitian Building embraces the simplicity and flexibility of traditional Lingnan layouts, focusing on courtyards as a central theme. Through the enclosed arrangement of the structures, various scales and dynamic spaces are created, including entry courtyards, semi-enclosed atriums, and sunken gardens. These spaces are intertwined with the hotel’s interior, merging indoor and outdoor environments, blurring the boundaries between them, and encouraging a fluid interaction between the guests and the surroundings.

The architects carefully integrated diverse outdoor amenities into the hotel’s courtyard spaces and roof terraces, extending the functionality of the hotel into the natural environment. This connection greatly enhances the user experience.

The design also respected the natural topography and existing vegetation, retaining original trees on the site, which now serve as distinctive features of the courtyard spaces.

An infinity pool located on the second-floor terrace sits close to the trees and offers sweeping views of the lake, blending functionality with the surrounding scenery.

The landscape design extends the features of Lingnan gardens, blending harmoniously with the architecture. The white walls and black-tiled roofs evoke the simplicity and elegance of traditional Lingnan aesthetics. The color palette of green, complemented by the deep gray and white tones of the building’s façade, harmonizes with the lush surroundings. The architectural space merges traditional Chinese Zen elements with modern design, offering guests a tranquil retreat amidst verdant mountains and clear waters.
04 Adapting to the Environment with Modern Integration

The unified design of sloped roofs not only adapts to the rainy Lingnan climate but also mirrors the contours of Baiyun Mountain. Fluorocarbon aluminum and terracotta panels were selected as the primary roofing materials. The combination of deep gray and wood tones lends the building a sense of solidity and elegance. Terracotta panels, with their customizable texture and color, further enhance the façade’s appearance.

The façade materials of Bitian Building draw from the traditional Lingnan palette, focusing on stone, terracotta panels, metal, and glass. While resonating with local culture, the design also emphasizes sustainability and environmental friendliness.

Granite is used extensively on the building’s walls, chosen for its smooth texture and fine-grained appearance. Rough-surfaced granite, paired with the dark sloped roof, evokes the cultural essence of Lingnan architecture.

The interior design continues the modern Lingnan theme, with open and transparent spaces and large floor-to-ceiling windows, inviting natural light and scenic views into the hotel. The interior decor draws upon the rich cultural heritage of Lingnan, blending Lingnan architecture with modern art. The theme of the “Maritime Silk Road” ties together Lingnan cultural elements, creating a vibrant space for cultural exchange.

Project Details:-
Firm
XAA Janson Xian Architect + Associates

Architect
XAA Janson Xian Architect + Associates

Project Name
Bitian Building of Oriental Resort Guangzhou

Project Category
Hospitality Built

Team
Xian Jianxiong， Li Kaiti, Cheng Lu, Pan Zaiyang, Zhang Deqiang，Li Xuesi, Huang Juanmei, Guo Zijin, Gong Renhao，Liang Minquan, Huang Lan, Yang Weijun, Xu Shaomei

Project Location
Guangzhou, Guangdong Province，CHINA

Country
China

Photography ©Credit
XAA Janson Xian Architect + Associates

About XAA Janson Xian Architect + Associates

XAA Janson Xian Architect + Associates founded by architect Mr. Xian Jianxiong, has been following the people-oriented design principle for many years,concentrating on the balance of function and aesthetics of architecture, and devoting itself to providing high-quality comprehensive architectural design services for the city.

Holding Class A qualification as an architectural design firm,XAA has won nearly 300 prestigious design awards and has accumulated rich design service experience on projects catering to the needs of the public, such as large residential neighborhoods,offices, commerce, culture, education, etc. With the core value of “Building for Better”, XAA has over the years maintained high standards and recruited qualified talents.

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