Header: Courtesy of Sunny Neuhaus Partnership
“The South of Colorful Clouds” is a hotel located deep within the sacred land of Yunnan, in China. Designed by the architecture firm Sunny Neuhaus Partnership, with Robin Wang as lead designer, the hotel is surrounded by mountains and lakes, an ideal setting for a truly immersive experience. Apart from the enchanting landscape, Yunnan is also known for its rich cultural heritage, as it is home to twelve different ethnic minorities, each with their own festivals and beliefs.
The design of the hotel takes inspiration from Yunnan’s natural and cultural environment, which can be seen in its cave-like interior with ceilings filled with tiny, starry lights. Earthy tones and organic shapes can be seen all throughout the decor and the structure itself, making this hotel seem warm and inviting—the perfect spiritual retreat. Large windows and natural light are also quite prominent, even with the chosen design style, and traditional elements like wicker furniture help to further bring the cultural heritage of the site indoors.
The exterior boasts a completely different style from the sombre interior, as modern architectural elements combined with natural materials dominate the structure. Clean lines and large glass panels make for unobstructed views and open a clear pathway for light to swim inward, while wooden screens and greenery help integrate the hotel with the environment.
The designers were focused on respecting Yunnan’s natural landscape and cultural characteristics, so integrating the many ethnic groups’ ancient wisdom was seen as a must for the retreat. Respecting a site’s culture goes hand in hand with a care for sustainability and for local communities, so it’s no wonder that the designers decided to work with traditional materials and craftsmanship. Modern doesn’t always mean stripping a space out of its history, and “The South of Colorful Clouds” is a clear example of this.
