Project Overview

The Kanchaulei Hotel is situated in Jianyang, nestled in the western expanses of the Sichuan Basin, connecting Chengdu city and the Tianfu airport. The location benefits from strategic connectivity, an abundance of surrounding facilities, and superior river viewing prospects. Guided by the principle that governmental endeavors to elevate the urban profile subsequently uplift project standards, the initial architecture characterized by a nautical silhouette and functionality, was found lacking in contemporary appeal and in its representation of culture. In response, MUDA-architects embarked on an exploration of Jianzhou's rich historical and cultural tapestry, extracting local cultural motifs for the architecture’s transformation, creating a harmonious balance between vernacular elements and contemporary architecture technology and materials. With approach to incorporating novel operational strategies, a restructuring of the building's functionality and flow were undertaken as well.
The architectural project encompasses a comprehensive architectural footprint of 8,245.32 square meters, with a vertical elevation reaching 23.85 meters. Comprising six levels above ground, the structure is designed with meticulous attention to spatial functionality. The ground floor, dedicated to public spaces, features amenities such as the hotel lobby, lobby bar, restaurant, and library. The second level accommodates guest rooms with courtyard, while levels three through six guest accommodations with river-view, with 70 rooms in total. Notably, the rooftop is designated as a verdant rooftop garden, offering a serene retreat for the guests. Additionally, the project includes two subterranean levels designated for parking facilities, catering to the practical needs of the visitors.

Project Commissioner

Chengdu Tiancheng Estate, Jianyang

Project Creator

MUDA-Architects

Team

Lu Yun, Li Aidong, He Fan, Fu Yao, Rong Dian

Project Brief

This project exemplifies MUDA-Architects' innovative approach to Futuristic-oriental design, effectively integrating architectural elements with local cultural nuances within defined constraints. MUDA adeptly harmonizes site-specific structural conditions to meet client operational requirements while embracing the intrinsic essence of regional heritage. Through the application of contemporary methodologies and aesthetics, MUDA again reinterprets the parameters of contemporary architecture.
Operating within the established structural framework, MUDA meticulously sculpts the hotel's street-facing profile by employing varied facade treatments. Concurrently, the deliberate enhancement of the riverside facade provides occupants with panoramic vistas, enriching interior spatial experiences.
Drawing inspiration from vernacular bamboo-reinforced plaster wall traditions, MUDA integrates bamboo strip textures into the architectural fabric, culminating in the refined composition of the curtain wall system. The adaptable design of the glass curtain wall not only enhances visual aesthetics from the exterior, but also optimizes interior environmental conditions, promoting sustainability principles. Furthermore, by translating historical arch-shaped motifs into colonnade elements, MUDA expands the building's street interface, aligning it with contemporary architectural paradigms and user expectations.
For the interior design, MUDA has introduce new operational flows and functional arrangements that not only adhere to contemporary operational standards but also enhance the building's functionality. The transformation of this architecture redefines the building's role within its urban context, creating a harmonious and dynamic environment.

Project Innovation/Need

MUDA's design involved a meticulous investigation into the historical and cultural fabric of Jianyang City, with a focus on integrating these insights into the design narrative. Four kilometers away from the city, Stone Bridge Town is historically recognized as the epicenter of political and commercial activities in Jianyang during the late Qing Dynasty. The architectural heritage is distinguished by its prevalent use of bamboo-reinforced plaster walls, a construction technique that utilizes a braided bamboo skeleton coated in mud plaster, notable for its ease of assembly and disassembly.
Drawing inspiration from the tactile and aesthetic qualities of the traditional bamboo-reinforced plaster walls, MUDA extracted the bamboo strip textures and reapplied the abstract form into a modular façade, fostering an architectural expression that is both futuristic and technologically sophisticated. The introduction of a dynamic glass curtain wall system not only accentuates the building's architectural form but also optimizes natural light penetration and ventilation, enhancing the building's indoor comfort levels.
Additionally, MUDA's design strategy paid homage to the ancient South City Gate of the Stone Bridge Town, erected during the Qing Dynasty and presently recognized as a county-level protected heritage site. The gate’s archway's form was reinterpreted within the spatial organization of the hotel's colonnades, creating an architectural dialogue between past and present. By recessing the hotel's ground floor to create a semi-open arcade, the design expands the potential for engaging public display areas, reinforcing the building's openness and accessibility, while opening up the building’s facade for a better landscape.

Design Challenge

The primary challenge facing this project stems from the pre-existing subterranean structure, which no longer meets contemporary requirements due to the evolving societal and functional landscape. Positioned within a convenient 15-minute drive from Jianyang Airport, the project aims to showcase Jianyang City to the external world. With all aforementioned conditions, MUDA-Architects is commissioned to develop a design that seamlessly integrates with contemporary aesthetic sensibilities and commercial dynamics, while honoring the local and traditional cultural essence.
Constrained by the fixed columnar grid of the structure, MUDA's design approach necessitates an inventive adaptation to the existing structural framework. The objective is to introduce new operational flows and functional arrangements that not only adhere to contemporary operational standards but also enhance the building's functionality.
To address these challenges, MUDA explores indigenous architectural methods, drawing inspiration from local construction traditions. Inspired by the texture and aesthetics of traditional bamboo-reinforced plaster walls, MUDA reimagined the bamboo strip textures, integrating them into modular façade elements, resulting in a futuristic and technologically advanced architectural expression. This exploration aims to blend traditional techniques with contemporary architectural materials.
By recessing the hotel's ground floor to create a semi-open arcade, reminiscent of Jianyang's residential areas, the design seamlessly integrates with the city's streetscape. The open and inviting nature of the arcade expands the hotel's public areas, meeting and surpassing the evolving spatial and aesthetic demands of contemporary society. This transformation redefines the building's role within its urban context, creating a harmonious and dynamic environment.

Sustainability

The Kanchaulei Hotel is built upon the pre-existing structure, thus its physical condition naturally diminishes the need for demolition, thereby mitigating economic costs and lowering the environmental impact associated with construction debris and carbon emissions. The incorporation of an operable glass curtain wall system significantly contributes to the structure's energy efficiency and emission reduction. During the summer months, the modulation of the curtain wall's aperture angles facilitates solar shading and promotes natural ventilation within the building. Conversely, in the winter season, the closure of the curtain wall enhances the thermal insulation properties of the building's exterior envelope, ensuring a comfortable internal climate throughout the year. In the warmer months, the curtain wall's adjustable angles serve to deflect solar gain while facilitating cross ventilation, thus promoting a cooler interior environment. In contrast, during the colder periods, the curtain wall's closure bolsters the thermal efficiency of the building's skin, maintaining a warm and stable interior atmosphere.

Atop the structure, the installation of solar photovoltaic panels represents a strategic approach to energy self-sufficiency, harnessing renewable resources to offset a significant portion of the building's energy demand.

Complementing the building's adaptive features, the surrounding landscape is thoughtfully designed to embody the concepts of a sponge city. Through the incorporation of rainwater harvesting systems, features for the effective collection and utilization of rainwater, thereby contributing to the broader ecosystem's sustainability. Collectively, these measures underscore the Kanchaulei Hotel's commitment to environmental stewardship, energy efficiency, and architectural innovation.

Architecture Commercial - Proposed - International

This award celebrates the design process and product of planning, designing and constructing form, space and ambience that reflect functional, technical, social, and aesthetic considerations. Consideration given for material selection, technology, light and shadow. The project can be a concept, tender or personal project, i.e. proposed space.
More Details