Songtsam Travel Hotel Jiuzhai

On a 3,000-meter-high ridge in Jiuzhaigou lies a micro-village of just eight wooden cabins—China’s smallest administrative village. It appears pinned against the sky by the wind, coexisting with clouds, fir trees, and rocky terrain. Now, we are tasked with transforming this unique site into a resort. Design here is not about “renovation,” but about “recalling”: recalling the memories sealed within the land, the breath hidden in the mountain forests and timber, and the traces of time buried in the layered mountains. Let aged wood be rekindled, let old houses rise again, let mountain springs sing once more. Let every piece of old timber return to the slopes, and let every crack tell the story of wind and frost.

A return to the essential nature of the natural world. The extensive use of wood elements and timber structures is not merely a formal choice, but a spiritual pursuit. We reject extravagance, allowing materials to converse with people through their most primitive textures and warmth. Thus, the space becomes a living entity, imbued with a sense of simplicity, warmth, and tranquility.

Within each suite, we have incorporated a separate living area that serves as a crucial transitional space. This is not merely a functional zone, but a psychological “sanctuary” and “threshold.” Its stable, enveloping, and comforting qualities provide guests with a profound sense of security and privacy, allowing them to settle both physically and mentally before fully immersing themselves in the vastness of nature.

The architectural approach is not to present nature, but to engage with it. Outdoor leisure areas are carefully oriented for stargazing, while open structures allow direct contact with wind, light, and seasonal changes. Fragrance, sound, and atmosphere continuously shape the sensory experience, shifting guests from observers to active participants in nature.

Each guest unit is conceived as a private sanctuary, ensuring a high level of privacy and tranquility. The extensive glass openings seamlessly integrate external landscapes into the interior visual field, framing panoramic natural vistas. Without departing from their quarters, occupants may experience diurnal and nocturnal phenomena—from morning clouds to celestial nocturnes—thereby attaining a distinctive restorative stay that rejuvenates both corporeal and psychological states.

The space is furnished entirely with rustic, aged furniture. Each piece carries a sense of memory and warmth—more than just functional objects, they serve as emotional anchors in the space, creating an immediate sense of comfort upon arrival.

Design: Thinking Design
Lead Designer: Wu Xiaoyong
Photography: You Pu