The project is situated within the Shapotou National Nature Reserve in Zhongwei, Ningxia, at the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert. This area is now a prestigious national AAAAA tourist attraction. It uniquely combines desert landscapes, the Yellow River, mountains, and oases, showcasing the spectacular scenery of northwest China alongside the charm of the south. Visitors can experience camel rides across the Tengger Desert, go on SUV sand surfing adventures, and savor the surreal beauty of desert smoke and long river sunsets—all within a short distance.
The desert, as a natural environment, possesses distinct characteristics. Extreme temperature fluctuations between day and night, intense ultraviolet radiation, fierce sandstorms, and severe drought make it an inherently challenging place for human habitation. Survival here without modern technology is nearly impossible. Constructing a hotel in such a harsh environment presented a significant challenge and inspired a profound respect throughout the entire process.
At the same time, the desert’s raw landscape ignited endless inspiration. It embodies a series of seemingly contradictory yet intertwined qualities—vast yet mysterious, romantic yet harsh, desolate yet passionate, peaceful yet transient.
Our vision was to create buildings that embody neither humility nor arrogance. They stand quietly with reverence but without submission, firm but not stubborn—evoking a sense of strength that allows visitors to escape complexity, reconnect with their inner selves, recharge, and achieve spiritual freedom. The architectural expression embraces elements of surrealism, science fiction, and romance.
We aimed to establish a place as pure, strong, and eternal as a diamond—dazzling, solid, and stable, yet clear and transparent. This purity reflects the endless desert, evoking a sense of emptiness—the impermanence and selflessness of all things. This emptiness holds great potential, while the solidity symbolizes “adamas,” derived from Greek, meaning “unbeatable” or “invincible.” Diamonds, as the hardest substance, represent unwavering faith and indomitable will. They withstand fire and steel, possess almost supernatural qualities, and symbolize eternity.
Additionally, through special cutting and polishing, colorless and pure diamonds emit dazzling rainbows under refracted light, resembling a brilliant starry sky. Ningxia is known as the “Hometown of Stars,” and Shapotou’s nights are exceptionally peaceful. Stargazing is a timeless romantic activity, with the stars shining brightly overhead. The Desert Star Hotel, the first phase of this project (Zones A, B, and C), has become the first popular resort hotel in China themed around the desert starry sky, widely discussed and celebrated.
As the second phase, this project caters to guests seeking higher quality and spiritual experiences. It is a luxury boutique resort with a distinct theme that offers a unique experience. Here, the concept of the “diamond” connects the desert and the starry sky, as well as humans and nature, forming the foundation of our design.
The vastness and tranquility of the desert contrast sharply with the vibrant energy of the city. When considering urban buildings and spaces, the approach is often rational, emphasizing humanistic care and social interactions. However, faced with the desert’s unique terrain, our priority is respect and reverence.
Architecture here acts as a medium, focusing on the relationship between humans and nature. By crafting immersive experiences, it transforms the raw landscape into a place connected to humanity, deepening the bond between people and nature through “artificial architecture.” This process relies heavily on intuition and sensitivity.
The further one moves away from the city’s hustle, the closer they get to their true self, unlocking deep inner energy and spiritual fulfillment. Visitors come not for mere comfort but to encounter the most primal state of nature and seek extraordinary, transformative experiences.
These unique experiences contrast sharply with urban life, yet they represent an essential part of the human pursuit of a complete and meaningful existence.
Our design seeks to channel the desert’s natural energy through architecture, transforming it into a tangible experience for guests. We aim to enhance the contrast and depth of this experience, offering an infinite extension and complement to urban life.
Out of deep respect for nature, buildings are nestled among sand dunes to minimize the impact of sandstorms. A subtle dramatic tension exists between the rhythmic soft curves of the sand sea and the sharp geometric sculptural elements of the architecture—like life’s sharp edges gently embraced by nature.
The irregular, cohesive sectional spaces defy traditional three-dimensional forms, creating an enveloping, protective atmosphere. Immersed within, one feels sheltered inside an energy core, attuned to the ‘heartbeat’ of pure geometric centripetal space. Life is but a moment in cosmic wonder, but the soul’s universe is eternal.
The interplay of cold and warm tones, light and shadow, illusion and reality creates striking contrasts, mirroring the desert’s dual nature—vast yet mysterious, romantic yet cruel, desolate yet passionate, peaceful yet fleeting. Architecture here acts as a natural amplifier, giving form to intangible elements like light and wind.
The building surfaces are coated with slightly textured white paint, chosen to withstand the desert’s intense sunlight. This white, tinged with gray, reflects the sky’s light, with mineral particles shimmering like sand grains under the sun. White acts as a second skin, blending the architecture with the desert, sky, sun, moon, and stars, imbuing the structure with a sense of time. Observing changes in light and shadow on the building reveals the time of day, echoing life’s joys and sorrows, full of vitality.
The building’s exterior features embedded triangular starlight lights of varying sizes to reflect dynamic patterns. This design language unifies the entire structure’s skin. Each triangular lamp features a specially crafted light box with three mirrored inner walls, creating infinite light reflections. At the microscopic level, it resembles a kaleidoscope’s rich variations; at the mesoscale, changes in density converge at corners, creating “highlights” along the diamond’s edges; and at the macroscale, alternating flashing states through nighttime lighting control create a breathing effect, shining like the distant starry sky. Between each breath, the architecture seems to possess life itself.
The desert’s beauty is truly unique—empty, romantic, peaceful, mysterious, and eternal. One of the greatest purposes of travel is to encounter experiences beyond everyday life, offering spectacular, unique, and unforgettable moments. Our design core fully integrates the desert scenery into the architecture. Views of the desert become part of the design itself.
All windows facing the desert are diamond-shaped, and the interior spaces continue the architectural style with irregular sections that seamlessly blend with the building’s form.
We have arranged all spaces sequentially on a narrow, buildable plot, creating a highly ceremonial spatial sequence with axial symmetry. At the center are the hotel’s public core facilities and service areas: the ground floor houses a 24-hour restaurant and lounge, directly connected to the outdoor diamond-shaped swimming pool and terrace.
By cleverly utilizing the natural undulations of the sand dunes, logistical spaces are discreetly tucked underground on the first floor. The second floor features a drop-off area, lobby bar, and reception, all within a massive diamond-shaped building with 27 facets.
The main public entrance hall is designed as a recessed diamond-shaped space composed of multiple facets, with countless mirror reflections creating a dazzling, ethereal effect. Immersed within, visitors feel as if they have stepped inside the heart of a diamond. This surreal, fantastical experience primes guests for the hotel stay. When the automatic doors open, floor-to-ceiling diamond-shaped glass frames the vast desert vista, instantly inspiring awe.
At the heart of the public area lies a ceremonial corridor extending northward, culminating in a star hall surrounded by a circular plaza. This is the tallest and most spiritually significant symbol of the entire Diamond Hotel. The auditorium, a ceremonial space just over 100 square meters, boasts a starry sky ceiling soaring 27 meters high.
Floor-to-ceiling triangular glass walls over 10 meters tall perfectly capture the indoor glow of the setting sun. This is the ultimate ceremonial space where guests can celebrate and share love with the sun, moon, stars, and desert—paying homage to eternal romance and nature’s grandeur.
Supporting spaces beneath the auditorium include a bridal room for weddings, VIP lounge, bathrooms, storage, and offices. A dedicated elevator provides direct access to the auditorium, enhancing guest comfort and ceremony experience. The circular plaza outside the Star Hall offers additional space for small outdoor events.
The auditorium is designed for flexible future use, suitable for speeches, brand launches, or custom events.
Viewed from above, the entire hotel resembles a sparkling diamond necklace resting in the desert. The public area and auditorium serve as dazzling diamond pendants, while the guest rooms are individual “diamonds” connecting this necklace.
Thirty guest rooms are arranged along arcs on either side of the central axis, each rotated sequentially by 5 degrees to offer unique sand views. The staggered floor levels ensure each room enjoys privacy and an exclusive landscape perspective.
The first-floor rooms connect via semi-outdoor corridors and are suites featuring separate living and reception spaces, creating a dynamic balance with the diamond-shaped bedrooms. These rooms provide direct desert access through balconies for an immersive experience.
On the second floor, guest rooms are independent diamond-shaped units with more complete forms, private entrances, and elevated desert views. Each includes a private terrace pool, king-size bed, and bathtub facing the landscape. We want guests to enjoy breathtaking natural scenery from any comfortable spot in their rooms.
At the ends of the two wings, two standalone large suites serve as exclusive wedding accommodations. Accessible directly by desert off-road vehicles, these suites integrate with the wedding hall’s ceremonial spaces to offer a seamless one-stop wedding service.
The ground floor features a living room and small bedroom, connected via an internal rotating escalator to the expansive bedroom on the second floor. These suites boast the most private entrance courtyards and exclusive landscape views, complete with swimming pools and separate outdoor landscape pools. The second-floor bathroom includes a skylight above the bathtub, allowing guests to bathe under the starry sky, creating the ultimate romantic experience.
Through this design, the desert is no longer a place of fear or awe but an energy field filled with love and power.
I remember my first visit to this desert in May 2021, when it was still a vast sea of sand. We came to envision a utopia of the future. Since then, I have returned to the site over 20 times, witnessing the project’s gradual construction, enduring countless sandstorms and extreme weather, as well as moments of profound stillness where even a heartbeat could be heard.
When the project was completed, its realization surpassed all my expectations, becoming a masterpiece of nature. It represents a secondary creation of nature that breathes life into architecture, crafting a “utopia in the desert” that harmoniously connects humans and nature.
This journey was filled with contradictions and surprises, confusion and relief, regret and hope—transforming countless impossibilities into realities. Everything unfolded as the best possible arrangement.
Project Drawings
▲ Project Generation Diagram
▲ Functional Zoning
▲ General Layout Plan
▲ Detailed Structural Drawing
Project Information
Architect: Water Stone Design
Area: 6866m²
Project Year: 2024
Photographer: Summer Solstice, Xie Jian
Lead Architect: Xie Jian
Architectural Team: Zhao Jingxuan, Guo Mingyang, Tang Yifeng, Yang Heming, Liu Fengxiang, Wang Meng, Peng Chengcheng
Technical Consultants: Wei Minfei, Li Wenzhang
Construction Drawing: Zhongxu (Ningxia) Engineering Design Consulting Co., Ltd
Landscape Scheme and Construction Drawing Coordination: Zhishe (Beijing) Landscape Planning and Design Co., Ltd
Hard Decoration Design: SCD (Hong Kong) Zheng Shufen Design Firm
Soft Decoration Design: CHD Hangzhou Touchdian Soft Decoration Design Co., Ltd
Curtain Wall Design: Shenzhen Pengge Curtain Wall Design Consulting Co., Ltd
Logo Design: Shenzhen Masite Cultural Development Co., Ltd
Lighting Design: Shanghai Bingsi Lighting Design Firm
Location: Central Guard
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