24/10/2025
Xirang Hotel project by Vector Architects. 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.
Architects: Vector Architects -
Principal Architect: D**g Gong -
Photo courtesy of Luo Canhui - .canhui, D**G Image -
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