Fungzen Forest Healing Resort is a vacation spot to rejuvenate near Hangzhou City, China. The butterfly-shaped building spans the river and unfolds on two hillsides while following the contour lines. It is the peculiarities of the site, the relief of its terrain and its vegetation, which guided the design of the Chinese agency TAOA.

Small patios have been created at the heart of each built unit to preserve certain trees and fully integrate the vegetation into the spirit of the place. Each resident can thus contemplate the beauty of nature over the seasons and bad weather. The roof is a stepped slope, which can be used as an open-air theater for performances with the mountain landscape as background. The wooden material, used for interior and exterior cladding, provides a warm and comfortable living atmosphere in contrast with the harsh climate conditions. 

The interior volumes, which follow the vertical drop of the hills, are widely open to the surrounding nature with floor-to-ceiling glass facades. The zenithal lighting reveals the variations of the sky and projects in different rooms a light which evolves over the day and the seasons.

It is the variations in heights and the sets of levels that differentiate the spaces instead of partition walls, thus creating unique atmospheres. In these uncluttered spaces, everything calls for calm and meditation for those who seek to escape the urban bustle. “The size of space is defined by the human body, and the walls and roofs of buildings are within reach. This kind of space experience always makes people feel that nature is close at hand, only separated by the thickness of an outer wall.” explain the architects.

 “The external landscape is projected into the whole space of the building, becomes the main element of architecture. All of which is to gain more perception of nature when living indoors. As a spiritual healing place, residents can once again feel at one with nature, return to inner peace and set themselves free.” say the designers.

Photos credits & architects : TAOA