INNHOUSE of CHINA

Images. Oval Partnership

Set high on a forested hill in China overlooking the town of Kunming resides a wood-slatted experiment in timber and bamboo

The vertically influenced INNHOUSE features extensive sustainability elements while acting as an eco-guesthouse for roaming travellers.

According to Hong Kong’s architect, Oval Partnership, the timber-clad buildings consist of reconstituted bamboo decking in a simple arrangement of forms. Featuring 17 guest suites, the INNHOUSE is configured around a cluster of four L-shaped structures, each linked by trails and courtyards. Each building is made up of three subsections, each with two wings and a semi-opened vertical circulation unit, all linked by a viewing bridge-corridor.

Protruding angular elements, integrated with a cantilevered balconies, allow travellers unimpeded views to the open greenspace surrounding the property.

At 6,842 sq.m. the Kunming project’s eco-mandate is met by applying sustainable techniques, both active and passive, to the mix. In addition to maximizing lighting in the day, the site also relies on natural ventilation, watershed conservation, solar and thermal hot water usage, and rainwater and grey water recycling. A highly insulated envelope was also incorporated in the build as was reconstituted bamboo. Special attention was paid to habitat preservation and intelligent building control systems.

The Kunming INNHOUSE, was one in a series of projects by the Oval Partnership as part of a concerted effort to raise awareness around eco-friendly and sustainable design with the hope of influencing future projects in the region.

Source Oval Partnership