A cluster of new and old buildings in the ancient centre of Yangzhou, China, has been transformed into a hotel complex, Jiangnan House Yangzhou Guangling, by local firms BLUE Architecture Studio and the Urban Architecture Lab at Southeast University. The project is part of an urban renewal program in Guangling Ancient City, aiming to revitalise the historic centre of Yangzhou by introducing modern uses.
The hotel comprises 40 guest rooms and facilities across numerous structures on the 4,250-square-metre site, including retrofitted and newly constructed buildings. The design respects and innovatively expresses Yangzhou’s traditional culture and history, focusing on local cultural and architectural symbols. The structures are organised around small courtyards, retaining the old town’s original layout.
The hotel’s lobby, a former cinema, features a rocky tree garden wrapped by bar and cafe seating, and a new building houses a VIP room and private restaurant within a gabled concrete form. The design incorporates local materials and crafts, such as bamboo moulds, recycled bricks, and traditional woodblock carving.
“Guest room interiors use natural materials โ wood, stone, handmade bricks, textured plaster, laminated glass โ to retain authentic textures and the historic building’s atmosphere,” said Shuhei Aoyama, BLUE Studio founder. The hotel’s interior scheme unifies the buildings, retaining and exposing areas of historic timber structure where possible.
Image Courtesy: Dezeen
