yinjispace

INTERIOR
Taihe Nanfang Design
PHOTOGRAPHY
Chen Jianzhong
EDITOR
Gina
Collection

In a tranquil corner of eastern Nanning, a boutique hotel has quietly taken shape. Backed by the Yong River and adjacent to the Wuhe University Town, it is surrounded by lakes and hills that mirror one another, intertwining with the city skyline to form a poetic landscape of nature.

Shenzhen Taihe Nanfang was commissioned to undertake the design. With deep attention to human emotions and experiences, the design team sought to create a reception environment with humanistic warmth within the rational fabric of the city, guiding visitors on a micro-vacation journey that moves from noise to ease.

The design revolves around the concept of “natural dwelling,” extracting imagery of layered mountains, flowing light, dappled shadows, and the rhythm of water. These are translated into spatial sequences, choreographies of light and shadow, and the gentle tactility of materials. In a lighter, more effortless manner, the atmosphere of nature is infused into the space, crafting an experience that blends regional culture with contemporary aesthetics. As guests move through the space, they detach from the tension of urban life and enter a more relaxed tempo, experiencing a shift from “urban rationality” to “natural sensibility.” This is a space for pausing, unwinding, and healing—where tranquility is no longer just a state, but a tangible texture to be felt.

The hotel lobby, as the emotional starting point of the entire space, responds to the order of nature through understated proportions and minimalist composition. The space takes “light” as its main narrative thread, allowing the structure itself to become a storytelling medium. The circulation unfolds in a gentle rhythm, with greenery and small-scale landscapes interspersed throughout, bringing vitality into the quiet atmosphere—like strolling through a hidden natural sanctuary where each step reveals a new scene.

The reception desk conveys a sense of natural simplicity through the texture of raw wood grain and deep brown tones. The curved ceiling design forms the core of the light-and-shadow narrative, where warm light softly diffuses to create flowing bands of illumination, guiding the visitor’s gaze. Small landscape inserts and architectural volumes introduce rhythmic variations, prompting guests to slow down and enter a state of quietude.

In its overall conception, the lobby embodies a chapel-like sense of spiritual calmness, using a strong sense of ritual to guide guests into an immersive setting detached from the city’s bustle. Light and shadow become the most essential design medium, shaping spatial volumes while reinforcing the spiritual character of the space. Through the interplay of light and shadow and the tactile quality of materials, the design awakens sensory perception. Grounded in natural materials and warm tones, and enhanced by sequential spatial rhythms and controlled detailing, it conveys a quiet, gentle, yet powerful spatial atmosphere.

The folded plane of the ceiling extends naturally, while the gray stone flooring feels calm and richly textured. The bar counter is composed of warm wood-grain finishes combined with natural stone, and the backdrop uses linear lighting to simulate skylight. Wood tones and shifting light interweave, as if extending nature indoors. Through restrained detailing and fluid light and shadow, the design rebuilds the sensory connection between people and nature—allowing every pause to feel like a brief conversation in the forest.

A semi-transparent partition formed by metal chain curtains and light creates a curtain of illumination that falls like raindrops. Both sight and light pass through freely, forming a gentle emotional transition and allowing the spatial sequence to breathe. The lounge area is furnished with low-saturation pieces in soft contours, adding a sense of ease to the seating arrangements.

The elevator lobby continues the natural palette of the overall space, finely weaving together materiality, light and shadow, and function to redefine relaxation within an urban hotel. With minimalist lines and tender textures, it creates a space imbued with warmth. In the guest rooms, natural wood grain combines with neutral tones of light beige and warm gray, complemented by fabrics, leather, and other natural materials to form a softly layered environment. The transition between wall and floor is clean and seamless, while concealed lighting glows like dusk, gently softening the boundaries of the space.

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