YongLi Red Tile Plaza We&Arch: A Contemporary Hospitality Retreat in Chengdu’s Forests

The YongLi Red Tile Plaza We&Arch project in Chongzhou, Sichuan Province, is a 13,350 m² architectural retreat immersed in woodlands. Conceived as an abstract settlement, the complex blends monumental forms, geometric volumes, and intimate clusters of functional units, harmonizing architecture with its secluded natural surroundings.

Monumental Gateway and Reception Design

At the heart of the composition stands a dramatic 12-meter-high gabled entrance, cantilevering 4 meters outward with ecclesiastical grandeur. This monumental threshold introduces visitors into a spatial sequence that balances power and delicacy. Adjacent lies the reception center, a white barn-like structure floating above water and accessible only through the main corridor. A curved bridge penetrates the gable, guiding guests toward an elevated art gallery and setting the tone for the architectural journey.

Dining Pavilions as a Village Settlement

The dining experience unfolds within a cluster of independent pavilions, each accompanied by its own private garden. These pods echo the intimacy of traditional village life while being interconnected by white-clad cloisters. Enveloped in lush vegetation, the design choreographs transitions between solitude and social interaction, enhancing the hospitality narrative.

Banquet Facilities and Spatial Efficiency

The banquet halls of YongLi Red Tile Plaza We&Arch are strategically organized beneath expansive mono-pitch roofs. By lowering eaves to a human-scaled 2,350mm, connecting arcades transform into framed galleries, offering curated views of water landscapes. The progression through these walkways recalls the rhythm of a Chinese landscape scroll, where each step reveals a new composition of light, shadow, and reflection.

Structural Innovation and Floating Illusions

One of the project’s boldest engineering achievements lies in its nearly 100-meter-long column-free corridors, enabled by advanced steel cantilever systems. These structures eliminate visual barriers, amplify horizontal fluidity, and create the illusion of architecture hovering above its aquatic surroundings. This floating quality strengthens the dialogue between built form and nature.

Integration of Architecture and Nature

The overall design achieves a poetic balance between monumental presence and environmental sensitivity. By weaving together varied scales and spatial experiences, YongLi Red Tile Plaza We&Arch embodies both functional precision and lyrical expression, redefining hospitality architecture in Chengdu’s forested landscapes.

The YongLi Red Tile Plaza We&Arch project exemplifies contemporary hospitality design that merges structural innovation, cultural symbolism, and natural harmony. Its spatial choreography transforms architecture into an immersive narrative, offering guests not just a stay, but a journey through landscape, structure, and memory.

All Photographs are works of  Hao Chen