STUDIO A+: Winner of World Design Awards 2024. Situated in Fengxi New City, Shanxi Province, China, the Mu Feng Yue Hot Spring Hotel emerges as a serene retreat, nestled in the natural wilderness yet mere moments from the urban bustle. This hotel represents a seamless fusion of city life and nature, providing guests with a peaceful and refined sanctuary. The architectural approach adopted here emphasizes harmony with nature and thoughtful adaptation to the surroundings, resulting in a design that boasts a rustic façade paired with a rich interior.

This establishment isn’t merely a structure; it’s an environment crafted through strategic placement of walls that redefine and choreograph the space. These walls fold and unfold the spatial experience, integrating the “environment” with its larger context. The sunken courtyard, tailored to the local condition, gives the impression of the structure emerging organically from the land. The choice of materials such as rich earth-toned, timber-textured bare concrete complements the natural hues of the surroundings. Key features include the ethereal “rice paper lantern” suspended tearooms, reflective pools, sloping water surfaces, and Zen-inspired orange glass pavilion set over water, all contributing to the hotel’s enigmatic allure.

This 3,440 square meter hotel provides 6 luxurious guest rooms, each with its own indoor pool, while 8 outdoor pools with dedicated showers and lounges are also available to visitors.

Fine dining halls and tearooms specialize in local flavors. The hotel’s 10,005 square meter of the land area allows for a sprawling layout that can include gardens, water features, lawns and seasonal flower seas. The hotel becomes an attractive option for those wishing to find peace and indulgence in an urban oasis.

Notably, this project adeptly incorporates an urban pumping station and a power distribution facility buried on the second underground level. The building was constructed atop pre-existing structure, constrained by the limitations of the site. In order to minimize earth backfilling, the architect has strategically positioned the building functions starting from the first basement level, ingeniously using the landscape to craft a sunken courtyard connected to the ground level via green slopes on two sides. This approach not only reduces costs for the developer but also demonstrates a profound respect for and utilization of the site natural condition.

Moreover, the project features temperature-sensitive skylights that smartly open to enhance air circulation and adjust the indoor microclimate, infusing vertical natural light into public spaces. A series of light-guiding tubes channel daylight to lower levels, promoting energy efficiency. The rooftop, abundant with greenery, purifies the air and harnesses rainwater, offering energy savings and cooling for indoor spaces. These environmentally sensitive designs significantly reduce long-term operational costs, reflecting a commitment to sustainable architecture.

Project Information 
Project name : Mu Feng Yue Hot Spring Hotel
Project Location: Fengxi New City, Shanxi Province, China
Total floor area: 3,440 sqm
Site area:10,005 sqm
Architecture height: 8.4m

Design Team
Architectural design: STUDIO A+
Interior design: STUDIO A+ (public area), Xi’an Xilv Tourism Culture Development Co., Ltd. (guest rooms and pools)
Structural consultant:  Beijing Qinghua Tongheng Planning and Design Institute Co., Ltd.
Electromechanical design: Beijing Qinghua Tongheng Planning and Design Institute Co., Ltd.
Curtainwall system consultant: Architecture Design and Research Institute of HIT
Lighting design: Ning Field Lighting Design Corp., Ltd.
Landscape design consultant: Xi’an Symbiosis Architectural Landscape Planning and Design Co., Ltd.
Client: Shaanxi Fengxi New City Investment & Development Corp., Ltd.
Design period: 2019 Aug. – 2021 Jan.
Construction period: 2021 Apr. – 2023 Aug.
Contractor: SCEGC Fengxi Construction Corp., Ltd.
Main materials: Earth-toned and timber-textured bare concrete, Cor-10 steel, Polycarbonate wall panel, Super white tempered laminated glass with digital printing, Super narrow framed movable window panel, temperature-sensitive skylight, light-guiding tube, etc.
Photographer: Archi-translator

Project Details:-
Firm
STUDIO A+

Architect
Min Wang

Project Name
MU FENG YUE HOT SPRING HOTEL

Project Category
Hospitality Built

Team
Min Wang, Mei Ding,Yuliang Wang, Hui Li, Xuan Wang, Chongshuo Wang, Wenwen Zhang, Kefeng Liu, Bin Xu, Guozhen Shi

Project Location
Fengxi New City, Shanxi Province, China

Country
China

Photography ©Credit
Archi-translator

STUDIO A+ was founded by Ms. Min Wang in 2007. STUDIO A+（ARCHITECTURE + INTERIOR + LANDSCAPE + PRODUCT） is a young and vigorous design team aiming to provide innovative architectural, Interior Architectural, Landscape Architectural, Industrial and Product design solutions for clients. By its name the studio covers multi-disciplinary areas yet specializes high quality comprehensive design solutions. Studio A+ completes architecture and a better life by the means of design.

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