Flowing Cloud Township Villa Perhotelan by More Design Office

Flowing Cloud Township Villa Perhotelan by More Design Office is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 A' Design Award Perak in Arsitektur Competition Category.

PerakArsitektur· 2023

Flowing Cloud Township Villa Perhotelan

by More Design Office

Client: More Design Office

A' Design Award Perak Winner in Arsitektur Category

14,090
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #142688

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Flowing Cloud Township Villa Perhotelan

Flowing Cloud Township Villa barado di Qinglongwu, sabuah nagari nan umua saratuih taun di Tonglu County, Hangzhou, nan tasusunan dari 4 rumah pusako jo umua nan balain-lain jo 2 bangunnan baru. MDO akan manciptoan sabuah tampek istirahek di nagari nan baru nan manjuluang budaya jo tradisi kampuang malalui pambaharu-an nan hatia-hati dari bangunnan lamo, manggunoan teknik, bahan, jo tukang dari kampuang. Di siko urang bisa mampunyai hubungan nan labiah dakek jo alam, bisa bariaso jo bataganang, bebas dari ganggunan hiduik modren. Untuak mancaliak tradisi kampuang, untuak maraso masakan kampuang.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Perak

Flowing Cloud Township Villa Perhotelan adolah pamenang A' Design Award Perak, sabuah pangakuan nan luar biaso bapresti nan dibarikan ka rancangan tingkaik tatinggi, elok jo mangesankan. Pamenang Perak adolah karya nan sangaik cemerlang jo sangaik kreatif nan mamparlihatkan kapakaran, bakaik jo katajaman pikiran parancangnyo. Flowing Cloud Township Villa Perhotelan dipaokan manjadi karya nan mangaguikan, contoh tauladan, sangaik profesional jo inovatif sacaro dalam. Rancangan nan manang Perak iko adolah panemuan nan nampak jo dikagumi nan mambari sumbangan untuak maluaskan batas seni, ilimu, rancangan jo teknologi. Flowing Cloud Township Villa Perhotelan adolah ciptaan nan dicamburui banyak urang, nan mambangkikkan karinduan, mambaok parasaan positif jo malahiakan karagumon jo kakaguman.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Flowing Cloud Township Villa is located in Qinglongwu，a centennial village in Tonglu County,Hangzhou,which is composed of 4 ancestral houses of different ages and 2 new buildings.
MDO will created a new rural retreat which celebrates local culture and tradition through the sensitive renovation of the old structures, using local techniques, materials and craftsmen.
Dimensions & Packaging: Area:1300 Square meters
Tags: Rural Regen,Modern,Architectural Design,Sypmathetic renovation,Local craftsmen, Local technique, Interior,Commercial, Simple, Natural,Art
Production Technology: Main structure：Rammed earth, Reinforced concrete
Materials：Reclaimed timber, reclaimed roof tiles,rammed earth, glass and steel
Design Challenge: The design process concerned how to maintain this patina of history, whilst carefully updating the buildings to be fit more modern use. MDO call this approach ‘sensitive renovation’, where we respect the existing structure but can still be brave in balancing the old and the new.

In nature, architecture is a foreign object which is inserted in a natural environment. So there are two possible ways to develop, one is to make the architecture integrate into its new environment, with materials, with its form, so that it blends with nature. An alternative is to treat it as ‘a visitor’, a foreign object which is deliberately in contrast with its surroundings.
Research: The architecture and space of Flowing Cloud Township Villa are technical products of local crafts and culture.

Tonglu offers the visitor a unique experience different from a traditional luxury hotel. Here we can have a closer connection to nature, to be able to relax and unwind, free from the distractions of modern life. To see local tradition, to taste local foods. It’s about sharing the local tradition and passing them on to the next generation.

MDO think that if in the future the homestay changes and becomes a village again, then we have helped modernize the village, but in a sympathetic way which respects the old. MDO hope that this type of sympathetic renovation can be a model for other villages.
Inspiration: MDO want visitors will be able to experience an environment in touch with the nature, a chance to disconnect from their busy urban lives. The retreat will offer new employment opportunities for local people, allowing them to share their rich cultural heritage.

The existing structures of rammed earth walls, historical windows and doors are all retained and refurbished. New elements are treated as modern insertions allowing guests to clearly read the relationship between the old and the new.
Project Duration: The project started in Qinglongwu,Tonglu County,Hangzhou in June 2017 and finished in June 2021.
Operation Flow: The dilapidated roofs were restored and lifted to create more usually ceiling heights. A clerestory window was formed around the edge, allowing diffused light to penetrate the depths of the space, and guests can see the bamboo forest from any angle in the room.

The existing gloomy interiors were brightened by adding New metal frame windows into the walls following the haphazard patten of the existing timber windows. The design carefully considered the location of the new windows so the outside landscape is framed like paintings for the guests to enjoy from inside.
Two new buildings were created on the foundations of a collapsed structure and establish a new dialogue with the countryside and nature.

The surface of the new buildings are rough concrete. The concrete is allowed to weather, so that overtime they will be integrated into the landscape blurring the boundary between architecture and nature. The rough facade contrasts with the crisp windows which frame the softer, warmer interiors.
Team Members: Architect: Justin Bridgland and Architect: Jaycee Chui
Image Credits: All materials on the site belong to More Design Office Co.,Ltd