Senbo Resort Hangzhou Tree House / WH studio

Senbo Resort Hangzhou Tree House / WH studio - Exterior PhotographySenbo Resort Hangzhou Tree House / WH studio - Exterior PhotographySenbo Resort Hangzhou Tree House / WH studio - Exterior PhotographySenbo Resort Hangzhou Tree House / WH studio - Exterior PhotographySenbo Resort Hangzhou Tree House / WH studio - More Images+ 23

Hangzhou, China
  • Architects: WH studio
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  1750
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2019
  • Photographs
    Photographs:Xiaoli Liu, CC, WCTG
  • Main Design Team: Hui Wang, Rongrong Wang, Tianyi Qin
  • Construction Drawing Design: Wanzhang Cultural Tourism Group
  • Construction Drawing Team: Jianbo Guan, Min Huang, Xinfeng Xu, Huaqiang He
  • Client: Senbo Resort
  • City: Hangzhou
  • Country: China
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Senbo Resort Hangzhou Tree House / WH studio - Exterior Photography
tree house in the valley. Image © Xiaoli Liu

Nest Residence
Located in Xiaoshan Xianghu Resort, the ‘Tree House’ belongs to the hotel district of Senbo Resort Hangzhou. The tree house may originate from the desire to return to the ‘nest residence’. After getting the proposition of ‘tree house’ and taking careful consideration, we gradually clarified the concept: it is not the solitary living but the state of gregariousness on the tree that can strengthen the characteristics of nesting the most, -‘A group of cabins landing on the branches’ emerged as the initial image.

Senbo Resort Hangzhou Tree House / WH studio - Exterior Photography
tree house in the sun. Image © Xiaoli Liu

Between Geometry and Nature
The design of stacking abstract volumes of residential prototype has precedents in Europe and Japan, but most are more inclined to geometrical manipulation and often limited to the internal experience. Based on the commercial character of this project and the mountain environment, we focused on the balance between abstraction and image, indoor and outdoor, geometry and nature.

Senbo Resort Hangzhou Tree House / WH studio - Exterior Photography
top view. Image © Xiaoli Liu
Senbo Resort Hangzhou Tree House / WH studio - Exterior Photography
aerial view of single tree house. Image © Xiaoli Liu

Therefore, the manner of "duality and balance" are implemented through all aspects of design. The simulated dead tree trunk directly evokes the image of nesting in nature, but avoids over-realism with lush foliage. The single sloping roof basically has no eaves and maintains simple geometric features. Each cabin has a balcony, the original facade also echoes the verdant surrounding forest. These volumes are nestled with natural trees, and the interspersed relationship of the shapes retains a certain artificial state.

Senbo Resort Hangzhou Tree House / WH studio - Image 21 of 28
rendering

The Interweaving of Three Elements: Path, Platform, House
The experience of the Tree House starts with " tree climbing". We pay special attention to the outdoor path and experience-the zigzagging path is like "climbing", outdoor terraces of different heights are like "tree branches" for little rest, and the house is equivalent to the "fruit" of the tree. The path has the experience of winding, light and shade changes, while the terrace is a comfortable outdoor activity space. Although each Tree House contains several artificial trees with structural functions, it is conceptually a "big tree" composed of three elements of "path-platform-house".

Senbo Resort Hangzhou Tree House / WH studio - Exterior Photography, Beam
close view of the exterior. Image © Xiaoli Liu
Senbo Resort Hangzhou Tree House / WH studio - Exterior Photography
tree house platform. Image © Xiaoli Liu

The Fairy Tales
Considering that the Tree House is popular among families and the youth, the six rooms adopt two shapes: double slope roof with concave balcony and cut corner four slope roof with convex balcony. The latter further strengthens the fairytale effect. In the original design, there is a slide from the platform to the ground to add fun. When the lights come on at night, it seems that the story of the "seven dwarfs" is about to begin.

Senbo Resort Hangzhou Tree House / WH studio - Exterior Photography, Stairs
tree house platform. Image © Xiaoli Liu
Senbo Resort Hangzhou Tree House / WH studio - Exterior Photography
pathway and space. Image © Xiaoli Liu

Incomplete
Tree House was so popular that it became internet celebrity check-in point, and was even used in the opening title of Faye Wong's new 2021 AD campaign. For designers, however, there are still many regrets. During the construction, the oversimplification of the single facade, the change of window shape, the discard of the wooden shingle, and so on, all make its effect eroded.

Senbo Resort Hangzhou Tree House / WH studio - Interior Photography, Beam
pathway and space. Image © Xiaoli Liu
Senbo Resort Hangzhou Tree House / WH studio - Interior Photography, Handrail
climbing pathway. Image © Xiaoli Liu

The concept of the Tree House is not profound. it attracts tourists from all over the world, perhaps because it is abstract but still close to the nature, and meets the psychological needs of people to return to primitive imagination. 

Senbo Resort Hangzhou Tree House / WH studio - Exterior Photography
appearance. Image © Xiaoli Liu

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Project location

Address:Xianghu Resort, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Senbo Resort Hangzhou Tree House / WH studio" 28 Jan 2021. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/955713/senbo-resort-hangzhou-tree-house-wh-studio> ISSN 0719-8884

appearance. Image © Xiaoli Liu

杭州开元森泊度假酒店-树屋 / 王晖建筑工作室

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