MORE Architecture’s Floating Hotel emerges from bamboo forest
In the mountainous region of Anji, China, MORE Architecture designs Floating Hotel, a boutique hotel that appears to hover above the bamboo forests. Located three hours from Shanghai, this structure creates an immersive relationship with its natural surroundings.
Over the past four decades, China has rapidly urbanized, resulting in densely populated cities. As domestic tourism grows, city dwellers seek rural retreats, finding solace in nature. The Floating Hotel addresses this demand, marking the first development in Dachangping, a bamboo-rich area in southern Anji, part of the Yangtze River Delta.
The hotel features a large, striking roof reminiscent of traditional Chinese architecture, designed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding mountains. This zinc roof covers four transparent collective spaces: the lobby, a yoga room, a restaurant, and an event space, all offering views of the dramatic valley. The design promotes a smooth transition between nature and architecture, with guests moving under the roof, across terraces, and between glass-enclosed rooms.
The project is captured by architectural photographer Kris Provoost.
all images by Kris Provoost
steel structure elevates Floating Hotel above the mountains
The hotel’s eighteen rooms are uniquely located beneath the main amenities, accessible via outdoor staircases. This design eliminates closed corridors, maintaining constant contact with the environment. The architects defied conventional hotel layouts, opting for three room types: single-loaded rooms with dual views, double-loaded rooms with expansive views, and corner suites offering views in two directions. An outdoor corridor winds past these rooms, enhancing the connection to nature.
The challenge of elevating the building above the mountains led to the use of a steel structure. The zinc roof accentuates the building’s folded design and will age beautifully over time. To create a warm atmosphere, the designers at MORE selected wood for floors, ceilings, and room fittings. Custom-designed wooden furniture, including beds and tables, complements terrazzo desks and bars. Steel columns elevate the hotel eight meters above the hills, creating a dramatic space underneath that houses a swimming pool and changing rooms, allowing nature to flow uninterrupted beneath the building.
project info:
name: Floating Hotel
architect: MORE Architecture | @more.architecture
lead designer: Daan Roggeveen
design team: Robert Chen, Sander Marino, Xue Guangjie, Adrian Briega Muñoz, Lai Zheheng Jui-Heng Chuang, Sun Furui, Emilio Wang, Pedro Martins, Lina Peng, Mari Moldre Bernie Wang, Mae Szto, Jeffrey Kuo
client: Huazhang Real Estate Development
structure/ MEP/ HVAC: ECADI Contractor – Zhejiang Dadongwu Construction Company
surface area: 6,000 sqm
location: Anji, China
photography: Kris Provoost | @krisprovoost
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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom
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