Limitations and Demands
The project is located in Shengshan Town, Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province. Local homestay projects are governed by strict implementation manuals, which set limitations on total area, floor space, building height, and even architectural style. Consequently, the scope for architectural design and spatial creativity is highly restricted.
▲ Project location
Shengshan Island, the easternmost inhabited island in mainland China, experiences humid air, strong winds, and occasional typhoons. Building material options are limited, while both transportation and labor costs are much higher than on the mainland.
The homeowners, siblings, want to maximize the use of available space, offering each room a unique atmosphere and as many sea views as possible. Their goal is to make this one of the top homestay projects in the Zhoushan area using BIM architecture, all while keeping costs under control.
Form and Landscape
During the initial conceptual design phase, more than ten design directions were presented and discussed. The owner ultimately selected several interlocking block schemes. Over the course of a year, the team visited the island more than ten times. On one visit, the owner suggested going to the deserted village, a local attraction. As they walked and discussed, the owner reflected that her hometown was in this very village. Because of the challenging living conditions, villagers gradually moved away. She noticed that the staggered, interlocking layout of the designed buildings reminded her of the scattered arrangement of houses in her old village.
Perhaps this is a coincidence, or perhaps the familiar form evokes deep memories.
What is clear is that the graphic design and site layout stem directly from the homeowners’ needs and the site’s landscape resources.
▲ Rendering
The project features seven unique rooms:
- Room 101: Private courtyard and swimming pool area
- Room 201: Framed sea view, facing the central island in the distance
- Room 202: 270-degree panoramic sea views
- Room 203: Overlooks both mountains and sea
- Room 301: A suite with wide sea views from both the living room and bedroom, a skylight above the bed for stargazing, and a private courtyard
- Room 302: Duplex suite with a 270-degree sea view from the living room, skylights in both the bedroom and master bathroom, a sea breeze terrace, and a spacious private courtyard. From bed, you can see the mountains, the sea, and the starry night sky.
Indoor Sea Views from Different Perspectives
Paths and Sensory Experience
The project covers a relatively modest building area of about 400 square meters, making the site slightly more spacious compared to other homestays on the island.
The approach is to extend the mountain path and create winding routes within the courtyard. This design gently lengthens the guest’s journey, calming their mood and building anticipation as they approach the homestay.
Space and Time
Through layered horizontal and vertical spatial penetration, and by varying window positions, the design intentionally controls how indoor light enters, extending sightlines and allowing the space to feel more open (thanks to BIM design). This approach aims to make the space feel larger, slow down the perception of time, and enrich the spatial experience, avoiding the monotony often found in conventional corridor and room layouts.
House and People
The owner spent a year searching for land and another six months finding a designer. After another year, the project was nearly completed. To capitalize on the peak tourist season, the homestay is already in operation, though some elements are still being improved. The interior decor continues to be updated or optimized as the owner’s budget allows. The house evolves and adapts to its inhabitants—it is shaped by the people who live in it.
Design Drawings:
▲ First floor plan
▲ Second floor plan
▲ Third floor plan
▲ Fourth floor plan
▲ Section 1-1
▲ Section 2-2
▲ Section 3-3
Project Information:
Designer: Zhou Xin Architectural Design Studio
Address: Shengshan Town, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China
Category: Youth Hostel
Building Area: 400.0 square meters
Project Year: 2019
Photographer: Kono
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