Flowing Cloud Township Villa: A Harmonious Blend of Tradition and Modernity

More Design Office's Award-Winning Creation Celebrates Local Culture and Nature

The design inspiration for the Flowing Cloud Township Villa stemmed from MDO's desire to provide visitors with an environment that allows them to disconnect from their busy urban lives. The retreat offers new employment opportunities for local people, allowing them to share their rich cultural heritage. The existing structures of rammed earth walls, historical windows, and doors are all retained and refurbished, with new elements treated as modern insertions, allowing guests to clearly read the relationship between the old and the new.

What sets the Flowing Cloud Township Villa apart is its location and the way it celebrates local culture and tradition. The retreat is located in Qinglongwu, a centennial village composed of four ancestral houses of different ages and two new buildings. MDO has created a rural retreat that celebrates local culture and tradition through the sensitive renovation of the old structures, using local techniques, materials, and craftsmen.

The realization of the design involved the use of rammed earth and reinforced concrete for the main structure. The materials used include reclaimed timber, reclaimed roof tiles, rammed earth, glass, and steel. The design carefully considered the location of the new windows so the outside landscape is framed like paintings for the guests to enjoy from inside. Two new buildings were created on the foundations of a collapsed structure and establish a new dialogue with the countryside and nature.

The design process was not without its challenges. The team had to figure out how to maintain the patina of history while updating the buildings to be fit for modern use. This approach, which MDO calls 'sensitive renovation', respects the existing structure but still allows for boldness in balancing the old and the new. The architecture and space of Flowing Cloud Township Villa are technical products of local crafts and culture, offering visitors a unique experience different from a traditional luxury hotel.

The Flowing Cloud Township Villa project started in June 2017 and was completed in June 2021. The project has been recognized for its outstanding design and innovation, winning the Silver A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2023. This award is given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation.