The villa in the ancient city of Xitang blends luxury with vernacular Chinese architecture
Villa in Xitang Ancient Town is the newest guesthouse complex in the historic water town in Jiangnan District in southern China, Courtesy of Nature Times Art Design Co
This new complex in the ancient city of Xitang takes its cues from its context. Located within a historic water town in the Jiangnan region of southern China, the project is called a villa, a hotel designed by design studio Nature Times Art Design Co., embracing local vernacular architecture to create a low-key, elegant and homely feel centered around a green and serene central courtyard. The place hopes to blend the old and the new, while being an integral part of the new and seamless nature and landscape.
The hospitality scheme is located in a new part of the city, adjacent to another newly launched hotel and an urban and residential eco-village. Its concept aims to do the opposite, combining modern luxury with sensitivity and respect towards nature and its surroundings. Clean interiors and minimalist architecture with nods to traditional Chinese architecture help create subtle accents and drama when needed, and secluded private areas elsewhere, balancing visitors’ needs.
In fact, the overall design balances the different elements – landscape, art, and design. In this context, the presence of nature was key, so the designers worked with the ‘space’ between volumes and clever gardening techniques to produce outdoor spaces drenched in green. At the same time, irregularly cut stone paving, winding paths, terraces and large floor-to-ceiling glass openings merge inside and out, blurring the boundary between the two.
Inside, natural wood and stone provide the touch, look and scent that recall nature, relying once again on the broader environment for development. Furniture and decor also work to achieve the same effect. The original introverted and gentle beauty of things is intensified, resulting in a soothing atmosphere. The placement of each object is elaborately considered, building a dialogue with the space. Visual composition and spatial narration are combined. Images of the mountain and water are reflected through the objects, closely interacting with everyday life, the design team explains.
Carefully framed views provide either subtle glimpses or gorgeous, full views of landscaped courtyards, while maintaining the luxurious ambiance within each room. §
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