Header: Amnor Resort Yinchuan
Amnor Resort Yinchuan sits at the edge of the Helan Mountain range in China’s Ningxia region, an area better known for its vineyards than for its hospitality offers. Designed by Eco-Id Architects, the resort is the first of its kind in the area: a luxury retreat set within a rural winemaking landscape. Commissioned by Ningxia Dulaan Winery, the project links attempts to bring the region’s tourism ambitions to life, offering visitors a quiet, luxurious base for exploring the surrounding vineyards.
The design
On arrival, guests are led through long vineyards before arriving at a central courtyard, which guides them to a large, tall lobby. This space, referred to as the Wine Cellar Lobby, uses an oculus to bring in high, concentrated light, inviting visitors to loudly “awe” when presented with a curved staircase shaped in the silhouette of a wine opener. The scale is deliberately grand, but the detailing stays minimal, allowing the architecture to act both as a point of arrival and as an event venue.
Throughout the interiors, Eco-Id attempted to draw references from the surrounding region’s history: textured finishes inspired by rope weaving, visual motifs based on traditional paper cutting, and stonework reminiscent of prehistoric rock carvings.
The guest rooms continue similarly, mixing natural materials with more contemporary comforts. Finishes are simple, with timber, muted textiles, and coarse surfaces balanced by modern lighting and built-in amenities. The goal was to create the perfect atmosphere for wine lovers, where the quiet and aesthetics could match the surrounding landscape.
