Japanese architects Kengo Kuma and Associates recently revealed their plans for Yunnan Hotel, a resort villa complex. (KMAA) In Yunnan, the far southwestern mountainous region of China known for its rich history and ethnic minorities, tourism is about to receive a modern facelift. Design website Design Boom reported that Japanese architecture firm Kengo Kuma and Associates recently revealed plans for a sprawling complex of tourist villas that attempts to seamlessly nestle itself within Yunnan’s landscape. The hotel complex’s wood and glass construction seeks to blend elements of nature into its design, while its layered exterior preserves the architect’s signature style. Presently titled “Yunnan Hotel,” the complex is over 100,000 square feet, and contains not only the villas, but also luxury resort facilities such as a spa, bar, restaurants, and a gym. The resort shares a connection with a nearby Yunnan Sales Center, a mixed-use complex comprising a housing sales center and showroom, restaurants, exhibition halls, and a theater. Both projects are also designed by Kengo Kuma. Unlike the standalone Yunnan Sales Center, the Yunnan Hotel extends itself through rolling hills, and both projects are connected by a sinuous pool of water. The architect’s signature style of angled, layered slats pervades the designs of the complex, from the exterior of the spa to the interior of the hotel’s restaurant. The emphasis on nature is consistent, from the use of wood and glass elements to the building’s often layered structures, ensuring a good view of Yunnan’s countryside.
