Weizhou Island, Guangxi, is hailed as China’s most beautiful island for its magnificent sea views, gentle climate, and colorful scenery. It’s a perfect place to seek peace of mind and a sanctuary to explore the hidden secret of the sea. The Funs Creative Design Consultant team chose “oasis” as the theme when creating Puinn Hotel, which not only reflects the unique geology of the volcanic island but also provides a secluded space for healing. The red natural marble of the hotel’s exterior, indicating the flowing lava, contrasts with the surrounding natural environment. This touch of passion ignites every guest’s eye and mood.
Public Area: Echoes of light
“Architecture is the art of capturing light and giving it form in specific places. Architecture condenses light to its most concise being. The creation of space in architecture is simply the condensation and purification of the power of light.”
– Tadao Ando
Upon entering the lobby of Puinn Hotel, guests are greeted with a large reception desk made from a single piece of red natural stone. The red color is a metaphor for volcanic lava. The natural nicks along the edges can be interpreted as dynamic eruptions frozen in time and reflect the features of marine erosion. It quietly stays there, connecting guests to the land’s history and stories from the moment they enter. In the central public area, the atrium and sunken space are used to craft a “hidden oasis.” Natural light, cleverly filtering in from above, brings vitality and spirituality to the inward-focused space through light and shadow.
The vertical flow of movement, organized by staggered steps, with freely placed furniture and tropical greenery within arm’s reach, creates a lively and relaxed vacation scene.
Swimming Pool: The Legend of the Source
The design of the swimming pool area is inspired by the discovery of a mysterious underground hot spring. Legends of surging underground hot springs stir the curiosity of every adventurous heart. The curves and undulations of the ceiling shape a spectacular scene reminiscent of a natural karst cave. Surrounded by lush greenery, the pool aims to provide guests with a ceremonial entry, as if stepping into an ancient and sacred bathing place and having a profound dialogue with nature underwater.
Guest Rooms: Island Dreams
The key to hotel design lies in creating a sense of novelty, offering a temporary dream for guests from afar. Meticulously designed various styles of guest rooms satisfy different accommodation needs, with each style carrying unique sentiments and aesthetic pursuits. The Wabi-sabi-style rooms, focusing on simplicity and nostalgia, create a tranquil and healing living environment with minimalist spaces and textured soft furnishings.
Mid-century style rooms demonstrate an elegance tested by time, subtly revealing a modern-retro charm with simple lines, high-quality leather furniture, and fine wall treatments. The extensive use of luxurious stones creates a visually zingy hit of luxury, while the high-quality details embody the “Old Money” style. The black-and-white style rooms perfectly interpret modern design techniques, featuring a minimalist and elegant use of the contrasting colors black and white.
Garden: A Restful Green Retreat
A leisurely garden in the transitional space and the external landscape provide guests with a strong sense of security and privacy with the surrounding greenery. The garden is embellished and transitioned by sand and irregularly shaped steppingstones, narrowing the distance brought by the minimalist architectural appearance with a loose and free layout. Puinn Hotel makes time softer and imbues space with stories. Here, nature is the brush, and time is like ink, weaving poems of tranquility and contemplation. It awaits every guest to come and co-author a tale of peace and freedom in this oasis of the soul.
