PECHINO – A BOUTIQUE HOTEL THAT MARKS THE REVIVAL OF RURAL CHINA
In recent years, we have witnessed the revival of rural China. Indeed, the central government is trying to revalue the country’s agricultural areas for tourism. Between 2016 and 2020, it has invested USD 656 million to stimulate this new perspective. Among other initiatives, 300 ‘slow’ itineraries have been inaugurated to help people rediscover these places and save them from impoverishment and abandonment.
The MM Farm Boutique Hotel project by Domain Architects continues the rediscovery of rurality in China. The architects converted a primary school that had been abandoned for years in a mountain village near Beijing into a high standard boutique hotel. Due to local regulations, no additions, subtractions, or substantial changes to the original structures were allowed. Furthermore, given the control policies due to Covid-19 and logistical delays, the studio was forced to use only local and traditional materials.
These constraints have therefore resulted in a light intervention characterized by low-tech materials and processes, which however completely transform the way you experience the site. The element that characterizes the intervention is hemp rope, a material used by local populations since prehistoric times but rarely adopted in large-scale architecture. The ropes modify the existing façades and create vibrant plays of light in both indoor and outdoor spaces.
In addition to the focus on traditional techniques, the project combines a particular ecological sensitivity, as Domain Architects has thought about the complete life cycle of each project material.
Source: Domusweb.it
