China-based international architectural design firm PLAT ASIA designed the Volcano-In Hotel of Arrivals, resembling a cluster of 45 volcanic craters. The designers placed the cabin-style hotels around a dormant volcano, which erupted nearly 150,000 years ago. Located in the Baiyinkulun Steppe and Volcano Area of Inner Mongolia, the cluster of hotels offers panoramic views of the beautiful volcanic landscape amid seasonal changes.
Inspired by erupting lava, each hotel resembles a volcanic crater that forms around the branch tunnels created by lava flow. The architect Bian Baoyang envisioned the cluster of volcanic forms as sons of the mother Volcano. This metaphor adds an emotional narrative to the project, depicting the offspring protecting their mother and helping her heal from the damage caused by wind erosion.
The Volcano-In Hotel of Arrivals sits atop the fragile and damaged area of the dormant volcano. The harsh and dry northwest winds accumulate sand and snow over time and reduce the moisture needed for plant growth. The design team collaborated with geologists and herders to study the damaged site and plan for ecological restoration.
The design team constructed a steel structure over the sand depressions to protect the fragile soil, making the hotels appear to be levitating over the land. Constructed with low-impact, prefabricated components, the team completely avoided any large-scale excavation or heavy groundwork as their main aim was to restore the vitality of the damaged soil.
The steel structure also serves another major purpose. It leaves a space between the soil and building, which captures the snow and sand accumulation. It prevents further expansion of these elements by trapping debris between the spaces. This process helps retain water in the soil and protects it from wind erosion damage, giving ample time for restoration.
The aluminum veneer cladding forms a cylindrical shape with a russet hue, symbolizing the oxidized color of the volcanic rock. The choice of color helps the hotel blend with the volcanic landscape, giving an immersive stay experience. Each hotel includes a guest suite, a bathroom, a terrace, and a snow barrier wall. The glazed windows give a stunning view of the landscape while keeping the interior warm.
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These cabin-style hotels offer a place where people can feel connected with the landscape. Each hotel unit features three types of windows inspired by traditional Chinese painting. These windows are among the most brilliant features of the hotel. You get a complete view of the steppe, lake, sandy land, and a clear night sky through the glass curtain wall.
The horizontal scroll window, positioned at eye-level, hides the foreground and focuses the gaze directly on the ridges of the dormant volcano and steppe horizon. The hanging scroll window provides a vertical view of the rocky, sandy terrain, while the skylight window offers clear night sky views. Since Xilingol Steppe has minimal light pollution, you can enjoy stargazing from the bed.
The Volcano-In Hotel of Arrivals Retreat evolved from a prototype of a first-generation design. Designed like a tent, the prototype features a 360-degree rotating mechanism that moves toward the sun. It sits on the hilltop and looks compact, compared to the second-generation Arrival hotel. The pod-like singular prototype designed to test the harsh climate of Xilingol Steppe paved the way for the second generation of the Hotel of Arrivals.
Via: New Atlas
