Nestled deep in the forests of Hangzhou, the Dongmingshan Senyu Hotel is a retreat defined not by grand gestures, but by its quiet respect for nature. Designed by GLA Architects, the 1,300? resort unfolds gently along a stream, surrounded by mature metasequoias and dense bamboo. Rather than reshaping the landscape, the design treats the forest as the lead character, inviting guests to enter a living, breathing ecosystem through subtle architecture.
The hotel unfolds across a series of thoughtfully placed structures, each designed to respond to its natural setting in a distinct way. From the forest-framing reception center to the light-filtering bamboo huts, the elevated Metasequoia Wood Cottages, and the sculptural Pinecone Cabins, each element offers a unique perspective on the surrounding landscape
The hotel’s reception center stands where a dilapidated wooden structure once sat. Instead of starting from scratch, the architects retained its original volume, creating a new building that feels deeply rooted in the site’s memory.
Facing south, a wide picture window frames the forest like a living mural, while a band of clerestory windows to the north draws soft light from the bamboo grove behind. As guests enter, they cross an invisible threshold, from the outside world into the quiet rhythms of the woodland. This central structure sets the tone: grounded, minimal, and in constant dialogue with its surroundings.
Situated at the forest’s edge, a bamboo hut is simple in its form but rich in atmosphere. Each is designed as a minimalist box wrapped in woven bamboo screens. These facades filter sunlight and create a glowing, lantern-like effect at dusk, softening the line between inside and out.
A visible steel frame gives the hut a modular, adaptable quality, allowing for future flexibility without disturbing the site again. Light, breathable, and intimately scaled, the bamboo huts offer guests a tranquil, transparent experience of the forest edge.
Raised on stilts and nestled among tall metasequoia trees, the Wood Cottages offer a more immersive canopy experience. The stilted design minimizes impact on the damp forest floor, promoting airflow and preserving wildlife corridors.
A steep double-pitched roof mirrors the vertical rhythm of the forest, while integrated skylights bring daylight into the tall, timber-lined interiors. These cottages don’t just sit in the forest, they feel suspended within it, creating a living connection to wind, light, and time.
The Pinecone Cabins take their name and form from nature. Designed as modular units that adapt to varying terrain, they’re elevated above the forest floor to protect tree roots and allow the landscape to breathe.
With roofs that taper upward like pinecones, the cabins echo the metasequoia grove’s tall, narrow silhouette. Their compact footprint and organic geometry lend them both a sculptural quality and a deep sense of belonging, architecture as an extension of the forest itself.
Dongmingshan Senyu Hotel it invites you to slow down. Every decision, from the stilted foundations to the bamboo facades, reflects a commitment to minimal intervention and long-term sustainability.