▲ Aerial view of the entire project
▲ Project video
Imagination Beneath Lanjiang Tower
Hangzhou Fuchun Kaiyuan Fangcaodi Rural Hotel, a family-themed hotel, has garnered widespread acclaim since opening a year ago. However, many guests expressed disappointment due to the absence of a swimming pool. Early in 2019, after evaluating several site options, the owner decided to add a combined swimming, fitness, and leisure center. This new addition was designed to create an interactive experience with the Lanjiang Tower, enhancing sightseeing and recreational opportunities.
▲ Nighttime aerial perspective
▲ Semi-aerial view
The Puzzle Piece
Lanjiang Tower sits at the highest point of the hotel grounds, but dense surrounding forests significantly limit its landscape views. Additionally, the tower’s limited function has led to its magnificent view of the Fuchun River being overlooked, leaving it relatively isolated with few visitors. The addition of the swimming and fitness center bridges the connection between the tower and the river, unlocking the full potential of the landscape. Expanding the outdoor platform and adding a convenience store further enhance the supporting facilities. By integrating these functions with a connecting pathway, the design completes an ideal puzzle, poised to become a unique and popular check-in spot for hotel guests.
▲ General layout plan
▲ Relationship between Lanjiang Tower and the swimming pool
▲ View from Lanjiang Tower overlooking the site
A Flat Boat Floating Among Mountains and Forests
The design utilizes a relatively flat hillside facing the Fuchun River, with Lanjiang Tower as the southern central axis. Care was taken to preserve mature trees and follow the natural contour lines, forming a boat-shaped silhouette reminiscent of a leaf. This design evokes the poetic imagery of “Farewell to Cambridge Again”: a ship full of starlight, singing beneath colorful stars. The facility is arranged on two levels, adapting to the terrain’s elevation changes. The lower front end houses a gym featuring panoramic floor-to-ceiling glass walls and a terrace that extends nearly three meters outward, creating a floating sensation overlooking the river. Auxiliary rooms, including computer rooms, changing rooms, and showers, are located at the rear. The upper level features an infinity pool connected to Lanjiang Tower by a wooden platform, creating an integrated whole. Two large preserved trees provide natural shade and protection for the pool’s edge. During summer, cool mountain breezes offer swimmers a refreshing and tranquil retreat beneath the trees’ shade.
▲ The flat boat nestled in the mountains and forests
▲ Site profile
▲ Distant view of the platform
▲ Viewing the swimming pool from under the shade of trees
▲ Pool lighting at night
▲ Resting beneath the Walnut Tree
▲ Gym floor plan
▲ Gym corridor
▲ Entrance to the dressing room
▲ Interior view of the gym
(BIM training)
▲ Interior view of the changing room
Starry Sky and Clear Water Concrete
Concrete, as a man-made stone, offers a simple and elegant aesthetic that blends harmoniously with the natural environment. The main building features a beam and column structural system that not only serves a decorative purpose but also reflects practical construction logic. The swimming pool surface is covered with starry sky-themed mosaic tiles, a design beloved by all ages. This theme complements the venue, creating a romantic and unique atmosphere.
The Fuchun River is often shrouded in breathtaking scenes described as “clouds flying toward Nanpu in the morning and rain rolling over Xishan in the evening,” immersing visitors in a sea of clouds. The interplay of stars and mountains enhances the scenic beauty of the Fuchun landscape.
▲ Close-up details of the pool
▲ View overlooking the Fuchun River from the outer corridor
▲ Twin starry sky motifs
▲ Close-up of detailed mosaic work
▲ Interaction between the swimming pool and surrounding forest
▲ Night view of the outer corridor
▲ Swimming pool illuminated by the sunset
▲ Swimming pool bathed in sunset colors
▲ Sunset view over the swimming pool
Project Information:
Project Name: Star Boat – Sky Swimming Pool by Fuchun River
Design Company: Landscape Architecture Design and Research Institute of China Academy of Art
Official Website: __AI_ST_URL_0__
Contact Email: __AI_S_SC0__
Owner: Kaiyuan Tourism Group
Design Team: Chen Xiawei, Ke Lijun, Wang Kai, Jin Tuo, Yu Guangjie
Project Address: Jiande Meicheng
Completion Date: June 2019
Total Construction Area: 300 square meters
Building Area: 300 square meters
Photography by Shi Zheng, Aoguan Architectural Vision
Construction Drawing Design: Wang Peidong, Wu Jianmin, Jiang Tieqiang, Shu Weikang
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