Bamboo Hostels

The three Bamboo Hostels resembling traditional Chinese local goods are located in the small village of Baoxi. The hostel project represents an alternative and contemporary application of local materials and aims to celebrate the beauty of these materials and contribute to architectural diversity in urban and rural regions. Being a part of the Longquan International Biennale, the project was built mainly out of bamboo and earth-based materials.
 

The project consists of two hostels and a guesthouse. All three structures have cores serving different facility units including sleeping units and circulation. The cores made of stones and rammed earth are surrounded by unique woven bamboo structures. Both of the structures represent the labour-intensive skills of local craftsmen. Architects aimed to strongly relate to the authentic cultural goods and local techniques of making them. So, the China basket weaving became the main reference for the way of construction and the shape of the bamboo layer.  

The energy and climate regulations are designed based on natural and ‘archaic’ sources such as fire, sun, wind or plants. The cores with utility rooms and the cocoons are thermally controlled with the support of low-tech heating and cooling systems. The fire is the main source of heating which is provided through the oven. Moreover, the oven together with solar collectors supplies the hot water and creates a a communicative atmosphere in the common rooms.