Lacime Architects has renovated the Ritz-Carlton Reserve Rissai Valley hotel, located in Jiuzhaigou County, China.

After the Jiuzhai Valley earthquake, the original structure and site of the hotel were damaged; upon entering the site, Lacime Architects re-evaluated the relationship between the architecture and the environment and strived to rediscover the lost living scenes of the Tibetan and Qiang villages in the architectural details.

"The initial design aimed to establish a wealthy village forgotten in Zhongcha Valley, with an effort to organically integrate multi-level architectural forms with diverse types of guest courtyards tailored to the mountainous terrain," said Lacime Architects.

However, after an on-site inspection, it was discovered that factors such as the operational requirements for the hotel's electric carts and the need for reinforced retaining walls for the mountains resulted in a design that was too monotonous and lacked richness.

This contrasted sharply with the naturally formed villages in the valley, making it challenging to maintain the desired texture of the village fabric.

As a result, the design team hoped to reforge the relationship between the architectural complex and the mountain landscape, aiming to reintegrate the architectural cluster into the forest on a grand scale, allowing it to blend more seamlessly with its surroundings.

This project has been shortlisted in the hospitality project category of Dezeen Awards China 2024.

Studio: Lacime Architects
Project: Renovation of Jiuzhaigou Ritz-Carlton Reserve Rissai Valley
Credits: Sichuan Jiuzhai Luneng Ecological Tourism Investment and Development