Muh Shoou Xixi: A Harmonious Blend of Architecture and Nature

Shawn Cheung - GOA's Ecological Design Wins Golden A' Design Award

The name Muh Shoou Xixi, meaning the last fruit left on the tree by farmers for animals, reflects the design's inspiration. The architect aimed to present the natural beauty of Xixi Wetland - its coldness, quietness, uniqueness, wildness, and seclusion - to visitors through the design, evoking a resonance between humans and the primitive nature.

The project stands out for its typical wetland ecology, featuring a water path, land route, and native vegetation. The building team meticulously recorded the root elevation, species, and names of all trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of 10 cm, weaving the building into the environment to adapt to the original vegetation layout.

The realization of this design involved a banquet hall surrounded by a 270° French window, blending indoor space with outdoor natural forests, lawns, and waterside terrace. The water route design, based on the original land-form of the wetland, offers a unique perspective of Xixi Wetland's beauty.

The design project, which began in 2015 and was completed in 2018, faced the challenge of renovating five old buildings on the site into a modern hotel in an ecologically optimal way. After numerous on-site investigations, the architects achieved structural transformation and integrated system layout with minimal intervention, ensuring a smooth connection between the building and the surrounding forest and water system.

The Muh Shoou Xixi project, with its focus on integrating nature into design and reconstructing landscape, is a testament to the design team's commitment to ecological architecture. The design's recognition with the Golden A' Design Award highlights its extraordinary excellence and significant impact on the world of architecture and design.