Reviving Tradition: Villafound Jade Hotel Lijiang

Nie Jianping's Award-Winning Design Blends Naxi Architecture with Modern Comfort

The Villafound Jade Hotel Lijiang is composed of 13 detached villas, including a folk custom museum, a restaurant with a tea bar, and several lodging areas. The design inspiration for this project was drawn from the village itself, known as WuLuKen in the Naxi language, where houses are made from a unique stone called monkey head. This stone, a substance between stone and mud, reflects beautifully on the snow mountain, creating a natural and stunning aesthetic.

Nie Jianping's design approach was to largely incorporate Naxi residence elements while maintaining the rustic beauty of traditional Naxi dwellings. At the same time, modern design methods were employed to meet the demands of contemporary living, creating a perfect and balanced luxury retreat. The hotel's unique properties include its architecture, steel-reinforced concrete, rooftop tiles, five-flower stone stacked sectioning finishes, grey tiles, glass curtain walls, and yellow mud coating finishes of exterior walls.

The interior design features pine wood boards, wax oil, yellow mud, and old boat boards. The hotel, which spans 3,800 square meters, is composed of 13 detached villas and has 26 rooms. The project started in March 2014 in Yunnan and was completed in February 2016.

One of the significant challenges faced during the project was connecting the old civic residences that make up the lodging area without causing any damage to the existing buildings. Another challenge was the inability to polish the interior floor due to the floor heating system. The architect resolved this by using epoxy resin instead of concrete flooring.

The Villafound Jade Hotel Lijiang was awarded the Platinum A' Architecture, Building, and Structure Design Award in 2017. This prestigious award recognizes world-class, exceptional, and highly innovative designs that showcase unmatched professionalism, contribute to societal wellbeing, and advance the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology.

In conclusion, the Villafound Jade Hotel Lijiang is a testament to Nie Jianping's ability to blend traditional architecture with modern design elements, creating a unique and luxurious retreat that is in harmony with its natural surroundings. This project not only showcases the beauty of Naxi architecture but also serves as an inspiration for future designs that seek to balance tradition with modernity.