Interior Design of Banyan Tree Nanjing Garden Expo / CCD
+36
- space :
35000 square meters
year :
2021
-
Architectural Design:
Kai Kui
Text description provided by the architects. Banyan Tree Nanjing Garden Expo is a luxury hotel located on Tangshan Mountain, once a paradise thick with mists and mists. However, exploitation and destruction by humans has stripped vegetation, altered geography, eroded soil, damaged landscapes, and turned Mount Tangshan into devastating industrial ruins. It became necessary to beautify and restore the site to enable the symbiosis of humans and nature.
Break through the “cocoon” of rebirth, and rebuild the mysterious wonderland of the Quarry Valley. With a long abandoned quarry as the hotel site, the project’s first priority was environmental restoration, whereby the Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) dismantled and reconfigured various elements such as light, stones, forest and rain on the abandoned limestone quarry. In this way, a new mysterious wonderland is created in the valley of the former quarry. A cocoon symbolizes the end of an old form, but it also symbolizes the origin of a new life. From the outside in, the cocoon is all about accumulating; From the inside out, it’s all about breaking, rebirth, and sublimation. Space design is the process of breaking the cocoon and rebirth, to allow the imagination to turn into the art of living. Life stems from nature. For this project, the spiritual quest and artistic imagination of space is inspired by the life cycle of “envision – penetrating a cocoon – rebirth”. CCD compared the architecture and the entire space to a “cocoon” that nourishes new life, introducing the vitality and tension of “breaking the cocoon and rebirth” using a simple, modern design language. The ‘cocoon’ shape disintegrates and evolves to respond to nature.
The “cocoon” is the main figure in the unified spatial context. With simple lines and layered woven bamboo elements, the space seems to trace back to the origins of humans and nurture new life in a mother-like dreamland. The curved shape makes the space smooth and round. The reconfigured space reveals a visual sense of transformation and awe. It resembles a pair of open arms, giving a home-like sense of belonging. This is where the imagination begins and expands. Natural space generates infinite vitality, leading to a far-reaching future. Wandering through space is a revival of human consciousness and nature, from art to reality, from body to mind.
Art returns to Earth. After a long period of mining, little greenery was left on the mountain, only bare soil and exposed stones. The CCD team thought about how to ensure the functionality of the design while blending in with the surroundings to contribute to environmental restoration. To blend architecture with nature, the designers adopted natural materials. The team believes that design is not just about form but more importantly about becoming part of the natural environment. The choice of materials emphasizes sustainability and respect for the ecosystem. Taking nature as a vehicle for creativity, natural materials create a holistic art scene.
Valley of Light. Based on the site conditions and design intent, the designers created the “Valley of Light” in the lobby bar. Utilizing the depth and variety of the valley, the space is curved and cut to offer a natural scale and inclusiveness, making guests feel as if they are surrounded by a natural valley. The designers envisioned this space as an adventurous ride. Walking along the mountain pass to explore more and more, guests feel as if they are standing on a cliff against the backdrop of the sunset. Natural shapes set the overall spatial tone. The entire space is light and elegant, incorporating natural motifs. It is enriched by the diverse structures, which create more possibilities for spatial exploration. Integrating space art in various forms, evokes ideas about the relationship between people, space and nature through creativity and rich imagination.
time forest. Sunshine, forest and waterscape make up a charming picture. The all-day open restaurant takes smooth daylight and shadows to direct the circulation, enhances the emotional experience through details, and builds a modern poetic space where light and darkness interact. This space is simple, natural and inseparable from nature. As guests walk through the greenery, a whole wonderful world appears on the horizon. Time slows down here, every detail is sculpted without a stunt, here and there a surprise awaits to be discovered. Large floor-to-ceiling windows bring an abundance of natural light into the space. Sunlight and bright tones highlight the warmth of wood materials, depicting an image of comfortable life. The space is full of poetry, presenting a symbiosis relationship with the external environment.
Valley of the Fireflies. Guests walk from the “Forest” to the “Valley of the Fireflies”, and enter a secret world. The Chinese restaurant gate reflects the lobby’s concept of “breaking through the cocoon for rebirth”, and another journey opens behind the door. It not only ensures the unity of the design, but also enhances the immersive experience for the guests. As guests wander along the course, minute and intricate details await to be discovered. The space is full of inconspicuous and enchanting rhythm. The design extracts the elements of the mysterious forest of Tangshan Mountain, transforming them into patterns of screens that separate but bind different regions together. Black and white, hardness and softness, implied charm and remarkable strength, fine grains and raw textures, balanced in harmony.
rain forest. The limestone slope of the quarry looks bleak and broken, but its great size is astonishing. Over the years, plants quietly grew between the layers of rocks, and formed a beautiful texture on the stone cliff of the quarry. The entire quarry cliff looks like a landscape painting that inspired the design team. The vitality of the space depends on the sustainable environment, and is constantly relevant to the context of the site. The designers brought the natural rocks of Mount Tangshan indoors. The rocks, eroded by wind and rain, show traces of nature and enable the interior space to fully integrate with nature. Meanwhile, the rocks also reflect the spirit of the site while carrying memories of nature. Poetic scenes, rustic textures, and contemporary art blend in a sophisticated and unpretentious style. The artwork “Tangshan Mountain Eye” evokes the memory of the site while linking the design to the art and cultural context.
Stone trail. Each guestroom is equipped with a hot spring bath with views of the valley and cliffs. The architectural structure and interior furnishings create a natural ambiance that subtly harmonizes with the mysterious atmosphere of Wadi Al-Majar. Presenting models with scenes and expressing feelings through models is a basic idea that the designers wanted to convey. In order to achieve this, the team fully thought about the relationship between the inside and the outside. Retro green is scattered throughout the space, which represents the vibrancy of “new life” while also creating the impression of merging with nature. The green tone creates the hair in interaction without being overly prominent. From the walls to the table, the warm texture creates a serene ambiance to the overall space. The stones fixed on the wall reflect the atmosphere of the site, and mix with dynamic light and shadows, creating a harmonious scene.