HUASHIXIANG HOTEL
Building Gross Area
18,960 ㎡
Year
2024
Location
Liuan, China
Site Area
17,400 ㎡
" Confluence of Waters, Renewal on the Timeless Path "
ANCIENT PATH, NEW DWELLING
Drawing on the unique geography of Lu’an, Anhui—where four rivers traverse the province—and the cultural legacy of the Huizhou merchants’ ancient trade routes, we propose the design concept of “Where Four Waters Gather · A New Home Along the Ancient Path.” This idea both inherits the essence of Huizhou architecture—si shui gui tang (the gathering of four waters into one courtyard)—and reinterprets it through a contemporary architectural language. Inspired by natural hydrology, the design seeks to embody the winding, graceful charm of water towns, while conveying the sense of return and convergence, like flowing streams gathering into one.
CONFLUENCE OF WATER:
THE CENTRAL COURTYARD
On-site investigations revealed that the mountain’s natural streams flow downward and converge precisely at the center of the hotel’s banquet hall. The design therefore redirects these waters through reconstructed channels, allowing the water system to weave through the hotel’s main spaces before ultimately gathering in the central courtyard pool of the banquet hall.
The circular form of the hall carries the traditional symbolism of cohesion. Its central pool and encircling sloped roof further emphasize the notions of “convergence” and “welcome.” Beyond symbolism, the design also serves practical purposes: the curved exterior walls deflect wind and optimize daylight, while the extended eaves protect the façade and foundation from rain impact, ensuring efficient drainage.
In Huizhou culture, “return” has long been a cherished word—once expressing the wish for merchants traveling afar to come home, and now embodying the hope that visitors will pause and feel at ease here. The converging central courtyard thus aspires to create a place where all who arrive may truly feel at home.
