Red Brick Hoteleko Barne Diseinua by Gong Xu

Red Brick Hoteleko Barne Diseinua by Gong Xu is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Zilarrezko Saria A' Design Award in Barruko Espazioa eta Erakusketa Diseinua Competition Category.

ZilarBarrualdea· 2026

Red Brick Hoteleko Barne Diseinua

by Gong Xu

Client: Gong Xu

Zilarrezko Saria A' Design Award Winner in Barrualdea Category

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Verified Award Winner

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Red Brick Hoteleko Barne Diseinua

Red Brick Qinglong mendiko hotel-barnealde bat da, kai zahar baten berrerabilera moldagarriaren bidez sortua. Berreskuratutako buztin gorrizko adreiluek pantaila arin eta argi-iragazkor bat osatzen dute, horma trinko baten ordez. Adreiluak zulatuta daude eta altzairu herdoilgaitzezko sistema ezkutu batek eusten die; beraz, ez da mortero hezerik erabiltzen fatxadan. Eguneko argia irekigune txikietatik igarotzen da eta patroi aldakorrak proiektatzen ditu barneko gainazaletan. Muntaketa lehorrak adreilu hauskorrak babesten ditu, ur-kontsumoa murrizten du eta gerora desmuntatzea ahalbidetzen du. Proiektuak ondare-materiala berrerabiltzen du eraikuntza-elementu aktibo gisa.

The Recognition

About the Zilarrezko Saria A' Design Award

Red Brick Hoteleko Barne Diseinua Zilarrezko Saria A' Design Award irabazlea da, goi-mailako, zoragarriak eta liluragarriak diren diseinuei ematen zaien ezohiko aitorpen prestijiotsua. Zilar-mailako irabazleak lan oso distiratsuak eta sormen biziko lanak dira, beren diseinatzaileen aditutasun, talentu eta zorroztasun nabarmenak erakusten dituztenak. Red Brick Hoteleko Barne Diseinua erakusleiho-lan zoragarria, nabarmenki profesionala eta sakonki berritzailea izatea espero da. Zilarrezko Saria A' Design Award irabazi duen diseinu hau asmakizun oso nabarmena eta miretsia da, onura ekartzen duena eta artearen, zientziaren, diseinuaren eta teknologiaren mugak zabaltzen dituena. Red Brick Hoteleko Barne Diseinua jende askok inbidia duen sorkuntza da, desirak pizten dituena, sentimendu positiboak ekartzen dituena eta harridura eta txunditzea pizten dituena.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Situated at Qinglong Mountain, Red Brick executes a radical adaptive reuse of an ancient wharf. Its defining property is the deconstructive treatment of millenary red bricks. Rather than traditional preservation, the masonry is re-engineered into a dynamic, light-permeable membrane. Through precise suspension and perforation, the facade acts as a filter, sculpting daylight into rhythmic interior patterns. This approach dissolves the visual weight of history, creating a dialogue between heavy heritage and contemporary ethereality. Guests experience a tactile narrative where time is materialized through shifting shadows and textured surfaces. The project sets a new benchmark for sustainable hospitality, proving that historical fragments can be revitalized as active architectural elements.
Dimensions & Packaging: Material: Reclaimed red clay brick, Stainless Steel 304, Local Timber. Facade Height: 3000 mm to 6000 mm. Brick Module: 240 mm x 115 mm x 53 mm. Aperture Diameter: 20 mm to 50 mm. Total Surface Area: 450 sqm. Load Capacity: 120 kg per sqm. Finish: Natural unglazed brick with clear protective coating. System Weight: 120 kg/sqm. Structural Anchor: Concealed SS Rods.
Tags: Red Brick, Adaptive Reuse, Hotel Design, Heritage, Light Wall, Sustainable, Interior, Renovation, Culture, Facade
Production Technology: Ancient red bricks were sourced locally and cleaned. A custom steel system holds bricks without visible mortar. Precision drilling made holes for light. Bricks are stacked without bearing load. They are fixed to the structure with hidden steel rods. This ensures safety and gives a floating look. Techniques include dry stacking and tension assembly. No wet mortar was used on the facade. This method protects the old bricks from damage.This dry method cuts water use and lets future workers take parts apart easily. It turns old waste into a safe, modern skin that breathes with the building.
Design Challenge: The main challenge was fixing fragile old bricks without breaking them. Modern rules required strong safety proofs. Old bricks vary in strength and crack easily. Drilling deep holes was risky. Mortar would block light. We solved this by making a special clamp system. It holds bricks gently and spreads weight evenly. We did not drill deep. Also, brick colors varied wildly. We solved this by mapping colors and arranging them in a gradient. This turned a flaw into a feature. We met all safety laws and kept the design light.
Research: Type: Experimental Architecture. Objectives: To optimize light in old bricks safely. Methodology: Simulation and physical testing. Tools: Rhino 3D, Grasshopper, Load Rigs. Participants: 3 architects, 2 engineers, local masons. Results: Perforated bricks improved light by 40 percent. Load capacity reached 120 kg per sqm. Insights: Old bricks can filter light dynamically. Impacts: This cuts carbon footprint by 40 percent. It proves heritage materials fit modern needs. It offers a green model for preserving history.
Inspiration: The design stems from a philosophical re-examination of the red brick. It transforms the brick from a structural barrier into a permeable vessel of light and memory. Inspired by historical masonry, the project dissolves boundaries between past and present. The motive was to revitalize the tactile warmth of aged bricks using contemporary techniques. Daylight filters through the material itself, not just the surface. This creates a dialogue where history breathes within a modern context.
Project Duration: The project started in January 2023 in Qinglong Mountain and finished in February 2025 in Wuhan. The design was completed for the 2025 hospitality season.
Operation Flow: The space guides guests from a busy street into a quiet sanctuary. Interaction happens naturally: as users step forward, the pattern of light and shadow on the ground changes, acting as a silent guide. The walls breathe; they are not solid barriers but soft filters that let light in while keeping heat and noise out. Key moments include entering the lobby where the ceiling seems to float and touching the warm, aged bricks. This setup deals a better result by calming the mind instantly without needing technology, proving that old materials can create a superior, peaceful modern experience.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Gong Xu, 2025.
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer Gong Xu, Red Brick Gu Bai, 2025.
Image #2: Photographer Gong Xu, Red Brick Gu Bai, 2025.
Image #3: Photographer Gong Xu, Red Brick Gu Bai, 2025.
Image #4: Photographer Gong Xu, Red Brick Gu Bai, 2025.
Image #5: Photographer Gong Xu, Red Brick Gu Bai, 2025.