M50 Art Hotel: A Symphony of Architecture and Music

Yun LU - MUDA-Architects Transforms Music into Landmark Design

The M50 Art Hotel is nestled in Pingle, Sichuan, a town with a rich musical heritage. The design concept revolves around music, specifically drawing inspiration from a local love story and the Guqin “Lv Yi”, a musical instrument that served as a love token in the story. The architects have ingeniously abstracted the action of playing the guqin into the architectural form of the hotel.

What sets the M50 Art Hotel apart is its rhythmic curves that generate the entire volume of the building, reflecting the rhythm of music. The external curtain wall, made from horizontally subdivided aluminum plates, mimics the texture of bamboo, paying homage to the prevalent Sichuan bamboo culture. This design approach is a testament to MUDA-Architects' commitment to creating landmark buildings that inherit historical context while being forward-looking.

The technical realization of the design is equally impressive. The curvature changes caused by the surface shape are eliminated by the gaps between each unit of the external curtain wall, ensuring precise control. The building spans a total length of 80 meters, an average width of 20 meters, and reaches a height of 18 meters at its highest point.

The hotel's interior is just as captivating. The main entrance is located beneath the most fluctuating part of the form, symbolizing the crescendo of music. The shared space inside the hotel includes a variety of composite functions such as a reception, lobby bar, leisure space, and exhibition area. The public corridors on each floor continue the rhythmic curve elements, creating a well-proportioned flowing space. The roof houses a sky garden complete with a bar and landscape pool, offering a quality leisure experience to the guests.

The M50 Art Hotel is not just a building; it is a celebration of local culture, music, and art. It has been recognized with a Silver A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2019, a prestigious accolade awarded to designs that demonstrate outstanding expertise and innovation. This project is a shining example of how architecture can transcend its functional role to become a symbol of cultural heritage and artistic expression.

With the design completed and construction expected to begin in October 2019, the M50 Art Hotel is set to become a landmark that beautifully encapsulates the spirit of Pingle Town. It stands as a testament to MUDA-Architects' ability to transform cultural narratives into architectural masterpieces.