Eclectic Pods Nestled in a Pine Forest Imitate Their Natural Surroundings
In southeastern China’s Jiangxi province, the woodland Tree Wow hotel added four unique offerings to its portfolio of short-term holiday rentals. Designed by Shanghai–based firm ZJJZ Atelier, the cluster of ellipsoidal cabins are swathed in wooden shingles and mirrored aluminum tiles as a way to echo their natural setting.
While the hotel specifically requested for The Seeds to be inspired by nature, they allowed the firm to have creative freedom while designing the shape of the structures. “Instead of creating merely imitative forms, we focused on developing the spatial experience by establishing the relationship between the structures and their environment,” explains ZJJZ Atelier.
The lofted attic space highlights the structure’s sweeping curves and various wooden tones
Each Seed house forms a continuous, ellipsoidal surface, with a mirrored aluminum facade rising to meet pine shingles. This mirrored aluminum cladding reflects the surrounding environment, the changing weather and seasons. This metal surface takes on the luster of red soil in winter, green plants in spring and summer, mist when wet, and sunshine on bright days.
An external staircase provides access to the cabin’s interior, which boasts a similar wood-clad aesthetic
Like the roots of a plant, this reflective cladding anchors each house to the earth, while the pine shingles give the structures a warm, soft aesthetic, allowing the structures to blend into the surrounding nature.
Like the roots of a plant, the reflective cladding anchors each cabin to the earth, while the pine shingles allow the structures to blend into the surrounding nature
According to the functional demands of these buildings, each house is designed with several circular openings to create internal sight lines branching off in various directions. For instance, the circular hole on the front of the structure leads to the terrace, which is like a stone platform floating on independent foundations. A tree penetrates the terrace, providing shade; a round window on the side of the building faces sparse woods; and a larger round window in the attic reveals the sky and the branches of tall trees.
The upper-level lounge features an oculus window that overlooks the forested landscape
Within the buildings, the interior walls of each Seed house are wood panels, and the stripes formed by the natural color differentiation of the wood further emphasize the ellipsoidal shape of each structure. Additionally, the area behind master bedroom contains the entrance, the bathroom, and room for storage. Furthermore, this space leads to an attic, providing a space for children. The attic and the first floor are connected by an elliptical staircase that intersects the entryway to form an intriguing, carved-out space.
A large, circular window in the attic lounge area offers views of the treetops and the sky
This marks the second project designed by ZJJZ Atelier for the Tree Wow hotel—the first of which was The Mushroom guesthouse, completed in 2020.
