△ “The Heart of the Pearl River” – Haixinsha
At the end of 2019, XAA Architecture Firm won the bid for the “Song of Cloud and Water” project, part of the Guangzhou Haixinsha Island Upgrade Plan Competition. The project’s centerpiece, Hotel INDIGO in Haixinsha East District, took four years to complete. Through close collaboration with the InterContinental Hotels management team, Guangzhou Urban Investment Group, and various professional design and construction teams, the hotel has recently opened. It now stands as a landmark representing the new face of Haixinsha Island, the central axis of Guangzhou, to the world.
△ Guangzhou Haixinsha Yingdi Ge Hotel
#01
Haixinsha: Rediscovering and Reshaping
Song of Clouds and Waters, City Memory, Ecological Green Lung
City Memory
Located at the intersection of Guangzhou’s new central axis and the Pearl River, Haixinsha Island holds a significant geographical position. It was the main venue for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 16th Guangzhou Asian Games. Covering 170,000 square meters, the island has a preserved construction area of approximately 119,000 square meters, with the western venue—including underground spaces—accounting for about 98,000 square meters. Surrounded by landmarks such as Guangzhou Tower, Huacheng Square, and the Pearl River Night Tour, Haixinsha serves as a key tourist hub and destination in Guangzhou.
△ Location Analysis Chart
Ecological Station
As the central ecological island at the crossroads of Guangzhou’s new central axis and the Pearl River, Haixinsha’s ecological forest attracts a variety of birds, serving as a vital stopover for migratory species amid the urban steel forest.
△ Ecological Forest Scene Before Transformation
The Haixinsha design team adopted a “micro intervention” strategy, emphasizing the “collision of old and new,” and proposed a “dimensional upgrade plan.” Through a series of sustainable upgrades and phased development, Haixinsha is undergoing iterative evolution.
△ Conceptual Rendering of “Song of Clouds and Water” © XAA Architecture Firm
Haixinsha is a cultural heritage site of the Asian Games and a city landmark. The design respects the island by preserving it as intact as possible, avoiding demolition or reconstruction. The transformation embraces a ‘de-architectural’ approach, clearly layering the old and new, reflecting their coexistence. – Xian Jianxiong, XAA Chief Architect
The transformation’s essence is to use art as a medium for dialogue between present and future. The entire island is treated as a grand stage, with different areas acting as distinct scenarios. Tailored strategies enable continuous upgrading of both the island and the city. – Zhan Tao, XAA Design Partner
#02
Implementation and Upgrade
East District: Haixinsha Indigo Hotel
Home on the island, neighbor to the forest
Indigo Hotel
The original building in Haixinsha East District was a Guangzhou Military Region clothing warehouse, now transformed into the island’s only Jiangxin Hotel.
Environmental Analysis Before Renovation
Set in a quiet, lush forest area, the renovated hotel offers guests the chance to immerse themselves in the clear chirping of birds and experience Guangzhou’s unique urban culture.
△ Bird’s-eye View After Renovation
Local Interpretation and Sense of Ceremony
The design team approached the renovation by considering the city, island, environment, and people, using culture as a guiding principle.
Within the courtyard surrounded by historic buildings and ancient banyan trees, modern design techniques reimagine traditional “arched window” elements into an arched corridor. The large banyan tree is preserved and enclosed, forming the main entrance’s forecourt. The combination of architecture, ancient trees, and still water creates a highly structured, harmonious space.
Main Building and Courtyard of the Hotel
The simple white exterior contrasts with antique bronze metal panels, while the entrance is accented with burgundy, becoming the courtyard’s focal point.
△ Arched Corridor and Main Entrance Space
Dynamic Symbiosis: Coexistence of Old and New
△ New Construction on the Main Building Facade
Choosing symbiosis between old and new, the architects preserved original window decorations, balconies, and structural systems, while integrating new textures to meet the hotel’s functional needs.
△ Renovated Main Building Facade
Ecological Symbiosis
A Terrace Embraced by Forest
Perched on the forest’s edge, the building extends into multi-level terraces, fostering dialogue with nature and providing optimal views for observing migratory birds. The rooftop offers an open space for outdoor gatherings, creating a place within the city that coexists and interacts harmoniously with the ecological environment.
△ Hotel Integrated with Ecological Forest
Humanistic Symbiosis
△ Architectural Space Reflecting Cantonese Culture
The architecture embodies Guangdong’s local culture with arcades, covered walkways, and elevated gardens woven throughout, linking the hotel and commercial areas. Public space interventions have revitalized the open commercial zones on the first and second floors, guiding pedestrian flow and energizing the island. Traditional elements such as Manchurian windows, flower bricks, Cantonese opera stages, and Dongshan Western-style buildings are integrated into specific scenes, showcasing Guangzhou’s rich history and Cantonese charm.
△ Interior Design of the Hotel © Guangzhou Haixinsha Yingdi Ge Hotel
Upgrade Plan
Haixinsha is a continually evolving urban node for both Guangzhou and the Greater Bay Area.
The architects approach the area with a concept of “ascending dimensional layering,” analyzing this axis from a dynamic spatiotemporal perspective. They interpret the island’s “sea heart sand” through sustainable concepts, presenting spatial forms that evolve with different historical contexts. The Haixinsha Yingdi Ge Hotel perfectly blends modern design with Guangzhou’s traditional culture, offering visitors an immersive experience of the city’s vibrancy and grandeur as an international metropolis.
Indigo Hotel and Haixinsha Island – Night Aerial View © Guangzhou Haixinsha Yingdi Ge Hotel
Surrounded by water on three sides and bordered by green fields, guests can fully enjoy the vibrant day and night scenes of the Pearl River and its banks. On the island, visitors can escape the city briefly by crossing the Pearl River, walk through the forest to experience tranquility, and slowly reach the ancient banyan trees to immerse in Cantonese cultural charm.
△ Hotel Ecological Trail
The hotel features approximately 500 square meters of outdoor lawn, an infinity pool, a trendy bar, and entertainment and fitness spaces, enhancing comfort and convenience for guests. The neighborhood restaurant on the first floor offers local delicacies and a fusion of Chinese and Western cuisines. The rooftop bar regularly hosts jazz and blues bands, creating a stylish space for urban relaxation and leisure.
△ Infinity Pool and Rooftop Terrace Bar © Guangzhou Haixinsha Yingdi Ge Hotel
The Indigo Hotel blends traditional and modern design languages, preserving the city’s cultural memory while breathing new life into Haixinsha. The urban renewal of Haixinsha Island will continue to evolve through ongoing implementation and iterative updates.
△ © Guangzhou Haixinsha Yingdi Ge Hotel
// We are at a pivotal moment in Guangzhou’s urban upgrade and privileged to be part of it //
Project Drawings
△ General Layout Plan
△ First Floor Plan
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
Project Information
Project Name: Guangzhou Haixinsha Island Upgrade Plan, Guangzhou Haixinsha Yingdi Ge Hotel
Location: Haixinsha, Tianhe District, Guangzhou City
Design Year: 2019
Land Area: 170,000 square meters
Building Area: 6,654 sqm (west), 39,864 sqm (central), 21,000 sqm (east)
Architectural Design: XAA Xian Jianxiong Joint Architectural Design Firm
Chief Architects: Xian Jianxiong, Zhan Tao
Architectural Solutions Team: Tian Wang, Wang Mengyu, Li Kaiting, Lin Shuo, Feng Wei, Tang Anyuan, Wang Yan, Hong Huaijie, Zhou Yexia, Ding Yi, Yang Tao, Huang Zifeng, Cheng Lu, Li Zhi, Wu Chao, Jia Zhongqi, Lin Wei, Li Jiaying, Cao Yuxing, Wang Liying, Zhao Xin, Lu Zhiyun, Sun Pengzhuo, Li Xinyu, Fang Guimin, Zheng Zhuowei, Zhou Yinggang, Kong Miansheng, Luo Jingjing, Huang Anqi, Lin Xiteng, Lin Fosen, Lu Side, Wu Jiedong, Ding Peisheng
Construction Drawing Team: Liang Minquan, Huang Lan, Liang Jielong, Xu Chaocai, Wu Muqing, Yang Weijun, Deng Lichan
Landscape Team: Li Xuesi, Huang Juanmei, Guo Zijin, Gong Renhao
/Guangzhou Haixinsha Yingdi Ge Hotel Project/
Interior Design: Studio Glam Urban Group Design Group Co., Ltd
Landscape Design: Pulis Design Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Guangzhou Yudao Landscape Design Co., Ltd
Brand Consultant: Shanghai Kenrui Corporate Image Planning Co., Ltd
Kitchen Logistics Consultant: Ruixian Hotel Facility Design Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd
Mechanical and Electrical Consultant: Zhuozhan Engineering Consultant (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd
Audiovisual Acoustic Consultant: Beijing Chuangyi Jiansheng Consulting Co., Ltd
Lighting Sign Consultant: Shanghai Zhitai Architectural Design Co., Ltd
Photography: Jiuli Architecture Zhan Changheng, Guangzhou Haixinsha Yingdi Ge Hotel
/Conceptual Plan for Upgrading and Maintenance of Haixinsha Island in Guangzhou/
Structural and Electromechanical Design: Guangzhou Hanhua Architectural Design Co., Ltd
Interior Design Consultant: Urban Group Design Group Co., Ltd
Art Consultant: Zhou Qinshan
Exhibition Consultant: Guangdong Jimei Design Engineering Co., Ltd
Video and Rendering Production: XAA Xian Jianxiong Joint Architectural Design Firm CG Studio
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