Visitors to the Guilin Lebei Homestay Hotel in Guilin, China, will enjoy an immersive stay in the historic city. Inspired by the structures of ancient travel, the hotel is composed of 13 uniquely designed units in a vernacular style where each of the structures is above the ground. Aoe, the designers of the project, describe that the elevation and overall design were inspired by the use of hotels by ancient civilizations.
“It is a kind of shelter with a wide view and practicality, while avoiding danger,” explain aoe. “We applied the concept into the project, enabling visitors to have a closer relationship with nature. The building is raised to a height of five meters [about 16 feet]. The elevated building is light and interesting and can have the widest view. At the same time, the height of the treehouse is aligned with the tree canopy. Looking out of the window, there are lush trees, giving people the experience of shuttling through the jungle.”
The historic need for protection while staying in a new place now allows guests to experience the contemporary site in a novel way. The higher elevation provides a more intimate relationship with the trees and the river gently flowing through the locale. The area can also be explored via floating wood pathways that connect each of the individual structures.
The design of every cabin is individualized and each takes on a different shape and form. For example, some cabin designs feature spatial organization specifically produced for children, including climbing ladders that connect the children’s bedroom on the second floor with the shared space on the first floor. In addition to the rooms, the structures include other accommodations including the main activity space, a play area, and more.
Whichever cabin you decide to stay in, any stay at the Guilin Lebei Homestay Hotel is sure to completely immerse you in the beautiful sights of Guilin. Keep scrolling for more incredible images of the project shot by Runzi Zhu.
Architecture firm aoe has designed a series of 13 unique hotel structures inspired by ancient hotels.
