Shengzhe Shen · CLIENT: Zen-In Architects
Zenstay is a boutique hotel on Dongji Island in Zhoushan, China. The project is a reconstruction of an original stone house on a hillside. Local dwelling forms and natural textures guided the design. The original stone and timber structure is preserved, and new white blocks connect the separated public spaces. An atrium and a staircase link the old and the new parts. Materials include concrete, local ashlar, old larch wood, used grey tiles and stucco. The hotel holds nine sea view guest rooms, a restaurant, a bar, a conference room and a viewing platform.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Based on local dwelling and natural texture, the reconstruction project aimed at improving quality of living for visitors by generating functional spaces satisfy both needs of traditional culture and modern experience under the seemingly dramatically opposite old and new architectural forms. While preserving the original structure to the largest extent, novel white blocks were inserted to establish continuity between detached public spaces. At the same time, atrium and staircase offered a smooth transition between the old and new and with a purpose to strengthen the harmonious and stable of the place.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Site area: 456 square meters, covered area: 733 square meters.
Original area: 318 square meters, new area: 415 square meters.
Including, 9 sea view guest rooms, 1 restaurant, 1 sober bar, 1 conference room and 1 full viewing multifunctional platform. - Tags
- Hotel, Residential, Adaptive renovation, Interventional reconstruction, Sustainable idea, Rural design, Rebirth, Island, Stone house, Low tech, Regional cultural
- Production Technology
- Structure: Original stone-timber structure, Frame structure.
Material: Concrete, Local ashlar, Red block, Old Larch wood, Used grey tiles, Stucco, Soil stabilizer.
Construction team: Local Builders. - Design Challenge
- In the process, there were series of difficulties overcame by folk wisdom and design strategy on the islands far away from the mainland without large construction machinery and vehicles. The concrete was poured by terrain and gravity, after transported to the top of the hillside by human and animal power. Trying to keep the traditional houses details and unique living experience, we combined modern materials with local craft as well. For example, the original style of the ashlar wall was put back to normal by soil stabilizer and loess. We had to face bad weather and goods shortage where could be more difficult than on the mainland.
- Project Duration
- The project started in April 2017 in Dongji Island, Zhoushan and finished in February 2019.
- Operation Flow
- In fact, most border islands have two sides of extremes — the cultural enclaves locked in the past and the hot spots for literary youth. Natural, traditional or fashion, postmodern would be conflicting and symbiotic. The design of Zenstay Boutique Hotel has both traditional and novel aspects as well, trying to cater the functional and scene requirements from its two aspects with a sincere and simple attitude.
- Research
- Thanks to the project, we explored the traditional stone house in island to construct skills as an appropriate technology (low tech), regional cultural of reference, its interventional reconstruction of the possibility and its sustainable idea of the necessity and reflection. By the protection of the original fabric and the innovation of the new format, we turned the old stone house of the rural island into a rebirth.
- Inspiration
- Zenstay Boutique Hotel is the ideal home for a post-80s couple on Dongji Island, the eastern end of mainland China, a original stone house on a hillside. Watching tides rise and fall, weathered by time and elements, stone houses create the rustic island culture and the beauty of years. The "local dwelling" and "natural texture" were the entry points for the design.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer Weiqi Jin, Aerial night view, 2020.
Image #2: Photographer Weiqi Jin, Main facade, 2020.
Image #3: Photographer Weiqi Jin, Platform, 2020.
Image #4: Photographer Weiqi Jin, Old and new, 2020.
Image #5: Photographer Weiqi Jin, Guest room, 2020. - Patents
- Copyrights belong to Shengzhe Shen, 2021.
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