yinjispace

INTERIOR
RooMoo Team
PHOTOGRAPHY
Wen Studio
EDITOR
Gina
Collection

Cloudhaus Hotel is nestled on the northern slope of Jinfo Mountain in Nanchuan District, Chongqing, at an altitude of 1,200 meters. Surrounded by rolling hills and offering expansive views, the hotel is situated in a rich natural environment. Jinfo Mountain is abundant in local products and features not only cultural architecture but also interesting natural materials and intangible cultural heritage crafts. Bamboo forests cover the mountains, with square bamboo shoots being a particularly renowned local delicacy. Originally serving as a sales center for a residential resort, the building was constructed along the mountain terrain, facing uninterrupted views of the peaks. As functional needs evolved, the client sought to sustainably transform this four-story structure into a boutique hotel that integrates local culture and the natural context.

The hotel focuses on redefining the relationship between people and the mountains. Through multi-level terraces, framed window sequences, and the use of natural materials, the boundaries between inside and outside are softened, allowing the space to become an extension of nature. Guided by sustainable principles, the existing building has been revitalized, breathing new life into it and creating a mountain retreat that balances ecological awareness with human warmth.

In the redesign of the building facade, an in-depth study of local construction traditions and cultural language informed the approach. A "frame-infill" modern construction logic was employed to reinterpret regional characteristics. This strategy not only streamlined the original visual system but also established a harmonious dialogue between old and new, integrating the building seamlessly into the mountainous environment. The facade features eight gray-white structural columns extending from top to bottom, emphasizing vertical rhythm that echoes the contours of the mountain. These columns also clearly delineate the hotel's guest room units. Locally sourced bamboo panels and stone masonry on the lower levels introduce horizontal textures, preserving the memory of local construction techniques. This ensures the building achieves balance in scale, materials, and visual impact, allowing it to blend naturally and stably into the mountainous landscape.

The front plaza, adjacent to the winding mountain road, was redesigned while preserving its original boundaries. Utilizing bricks salvaged from the existing ground, we optimized the structural integration of the bridge and the sunken landscape area in the front zone. Crushed stone from the mountain site and locally sourced "dragon-scale" stones were repurposed to create a central rock garden facing the two entrance approaches and the main hotel entrance. We selected reclaimed timber with imperfect surfaces and applied a charring treatment (shou sugi ban technique). While maximizing the usability of all reclaimed wood, we combined it with waste concrete drill cores generated during the building's renovation. Together, these materials form a system of physical and visual barriers within the front landscape.

In respectful homage to local bamboo railing techniques, we used readily available green plastic strapping woven together with bamboo strips to construct railings along the mountainside and on both sides of the entrance bridge. By strategically varying the density of the green weaving, we introduced a visual rhythm for guests approaching the hotel.

The same philosophy of material reuse was applied to the courtyard walls of the second-floor rooms that connect with the ground. The natural form and height of the reclaimed logs were largely preserved, and they were assembled using traditional local methods for bundling bamboo. This created a natural, organic, and relaxed courtyard wall system that gradually descends with the sloping terrain. This approach echoes the bamboo infill panels and stonework within the exterior structural framework, forming a cohesive visual language throughout the site.

Upon entering the reception lobby from the main entrance, the intention was to create a holistic and continuous sense of being enveloped by elements from the mountain. Building upon the local architectural logic of "frame and infill," materials such as bamboo shoots husks, square bamboo, reclaimed waste from mountain houses, charred wood with less desirable grain, bamboo woven artworks, and distinctive black stones from the mountains are integrated. These elements unfold naturally, organically, and progressively for guests as they step into the space.

The restaurant is located on the first-floor podium of the building, formed by extending the structure from the parking area towards the mountain. From the interior to the exterior, the space is arranged in a stepped manner: the kitchen, indoor dining area, and outdoor seating area connect the main four-story building with the outdoor seating zone and the courtyard entrances of the six ground-floor rooms.

The 25 rooms face the mountain and are arranged in a fan shape on the middle floor of the building. Through a combination of courtyard rooms, high-floor suites, twin rooms, and standard king-bed rooms, the hotel meets diverse and multi-level operational needs. The room design continues the overall architectural and public area concept, using earthy tones to unify the framework, materials, details, and artistic accents.

MORE PHOTOS