Architectural Cases

Embracing Heritage and Nature: A Mountain Retreat Reimagined Through Sustainable Design

The Transformation of a High-Altitude Micro-Village into a Serene Resort

At an elevation of 3,000 meters in China's picturesque Jiuzhaigou, the Songtsm Travel Hotel Jiuzhai project breathes new life into a small community of eight existing wooden structures. This initiative goes beyond simple refurbishment, focusing on the careful reuse of aged wood and the preservation of the original architectural character. The design strategy prioritizes a harmonious integration with the surrounding landscape, characterized by its cloud-kissed ridges, dense fir forests, and rugged terrain. The result is a small-scale resort that respects its natural and cultural context.

Innovative Spatial Layout: Dispersed Units for an Intimate Experience

The resort comprises twelve individual guest accommodations, each thoughtfully positioned on plots ranging from 150 to 180 square meters, with interior spaces exceeding 80 square meters. These units are organized into four distinct clusters, where essential functions such as living areas, sleeping quarters, private soaking pools, and tea pavilions are distributed across separate structures. This deliberate fragmentation minimizes the visual impact of each building, allowing them to blend seamlessly into the topography and create a more intimate, secluded atmosphere.

Materiality and Heritage: Celebrating Timber and Tibetan Vernacular

The core of the project's material palette is timber, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and authenticity. Existing wooden components are meticulously salvaged and reincorporated, while new construction adheres to similar timber-based methodologies. The architectural style draws inspiration from traditional Tibetan dwellings, featuring characteristic wooden shingles and tiled roofs that ensure a visual and material continuity with the region's rich heritage. The use of untreated or minimally processed materials allows the inherent textures, natural aging, and environmental wear to become an integral part of the aesthetic, telling a story of time and place.

Blurring Boundaries: Seamless Integration of Interior and Exterior Realms

Each guest unit is conceived not as a singular enclosed space, but as a dynamic progression of interconnected zones. Transitional areas, including dedicated living spaces, serve as a gentle interface between the indoors and the majestic outdoors. These zones facilitate a gradual shift from sheltered, private environments to more expansive, landscape-oriented settings. The spatial arrangement carefully balances privacy with an uninterrupted visual dialogue with the surroundings, ensuring guests feel connected to the natural world.

Panoramic Vistas and Sensory Engagement: Windows to the Wild

Strategically placed openings and transparent surfaces act as natural frames, capturing breathtaking views of the encompassing landscape and drawing natural elements into the interior. Expansive glazed sections allow abundant daylight to flood the spaces, providing constant observation of the ever-changing weather—from drifting clouds to star-studded night skies. Outdoor living areas are thoughtfully oriented for activities like stargazing and direct immersion in seasonal variations. Wooden soaking pools further enhance the connection to nature, extending the tactile qualities of timber to areas of personal comfort and relaxation.

The Heart of the Resort: A Lobby Defined by Material Memory

The central reception area stands as a communal interior space, unified by its material consistency and the creative reuse of elements. Aged wooden panels adorn the ceiling, while textured plaster walls introduce a subtle contrast. Furnishings, crafted from salvaged or aged materials, contribute to a cohesive design language, reinforcing the overarching spatial identity of the resort. The construction methodology prioritizes minimal site disturbance, retaining existing cabins whenever feasible and carefully integrating new structures to respect the natural contours and vegetation. This approach avoids extensive ground modification, ensuring the built environment remains deeply rooted within its pristine natural setting.

The Seoul Design Award has launched its 2026 call for submissions, reinforcing its position as a leading international accolade for sustainable design addressing global social and climate concerns. This seventh iteration of the award, now in partnership with designboom, seeks to amplify projects that demonstrate significant positive influence. Since its inception in 2019, the award has seen substantial growth, attracting a wide array of entries from across the globe, underscoring its pivotal role in showcasing design's capacity to reshape everyday existence and guide humanity towards an environmentally conscious future. The program actively encourages innovative design thinking, from emerging student talent to established global institutions, fostering a comprehensive approach to design's societal contributions.

Global Call for Sustainable Design Innovation

The Seoul Design Award 2026 is actively seeking submissions from designers worldwide, inviting them to present innovative solutions that tackle pressing social and climate issues through sustainable design principles. This year marks the seventh cycle of the prestigious global award, which has garnered significant international attention and participation since its launch. The initiative aims to spotlight projects that not only demonstrate design excellence but also drive tangible positive impact on communities and the environment. With a remarkable growth in entries over the past years, the award continues to serve as a vital platform for showcasing how thoughtful design can contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future for all. Submissions are accepted exclusively in English through the official website, with a deadline set for June 30, 2026, welcoming diverse perspectives and groundbreaking ideas from the international design community.

The Seoul Design Award, orchestrated by the Seoul Design Foundation, is grounded in the conviction that design serves as a powerful catalyst for enhancing daily life and steering the world toward collective sustainability. Kang Heui Cha, the Foundation's CEO, highlights the award as an essential forum for designers committed to creating positive change. For its 2026 edition, the award has broadened its scope to encompass the entire professional journey of designers, acknowledging the nascent potential of students as well as the far-reaching influence of major global entities. This inclusive approach ensures a wide spectrum of innovative ideas, from conceptual proposals to fully realized projects, are recognized and celebrated. The award fosters a global exchange of ideas, providing a unique opportunity for designers to present their work, gain international exposure, and connect with a network of experts dedicated to advancing sustainable design practices.

Recognizing Design Excellence and Future Talent

The Seoul Design Award is dedicated to identifying a new wave of designers who place a high priority on social responsibility alongside aesthetic appeal. A notable enhancement for the 2026 edition is the expansion of the Young Designer Award, previously known as the Concept Award, which has been specifically revamped to engage undergraduate and graduate students globally, encouraging their creative problem-solving. While the Main Awards celebrate completed, functional products currently in use, the Young Designer Award welcomes conceptual proposals, including mock-ups and prototypes, thereby nurturing future talent. Additionally, the ESG Design Impact Award acknowledges outstanding sustainable projects spearheaded by corporations and institutions, affirming ethical design as a fundamental principle of global industry. This comprehensive recognition system ensures that design innovations across all stages of development, from nascent ideas to impactful market solutions, are given due prominence.

To facilitate this international exchange of innovative concepts, the program plans to honor more than 60 winners across its diverse categories. Furthermore, three designboom Special Prize recipients will be chosen, receiving exclusive editorial coverage to provide their projects and themselves with significant international visibility. All laureates will also be furnished with a comprehensive scorecard containing evaluations from global specialists, offering valuable feedback to refine their practices and foster professional connections within the sustainable design community. The program culminates in October with a formal award ceremony and an international conference hosted at Seoul's distinguished Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). This event serves as a premier global platform for discourse, complemented by various parallel programs organized in collaboration with international corporations dedicated to promoting sustainability, further enriching the dialogue on design's role in addressing global challenges.