Vanke Xi An Club by gad: An Immersive Wellness Retreat Blending Architecture and Nature

Located on the pristine shores of Fuxian Lake in Yuxi, Yunnan Province, China, the Vanke Xi An Club by renowned architecture firm gad (Green Architecture & Design)is a serene retreat that embodies wellness, leisure, and design excellence. With a generous built-up area of 4,740 square meters, this hospitality project creates a harmonious dialogue between built form and its surrounding landscape.

A Multi-Functional Wellness Destination

Designed as a comprehensive recreational and wellbeing complex, Vanke Xi An Club integrates an impressive range of amenities: a swimming pool, yoga studio, gymnasium, library, art gallery, and a coffee shop. These spaces are tailored for modern lifestyles, promoting both mental and physical rejuvenation within a tranquil, nature-immersed environment.

Design Concept: Architecture Rooted in Nature

“Growing in nature and melting in nature.”

This central design philosophy is evident in the way the building seamlessly merges with the existing topography and lakeside environment. The project leverages the site’s natural elevation changes, cascading gently down the slope with minimal ecological intervention. The undulating green roof, inspired by the rippling waves of Fuxian Lake, integrates the architecture into the hillside, enhancing thermal insulation while reinforcing the organic form of the structure.

Modular Spatial Composition for Functional Clarity

The spatial arrangement features modular, box-like volumes that house different functional areas. These units effectively conceal mechanical systems, while guiding visitors fluidly through the complex. The careful zoning allows for overlap and interaction between spaces, ensuring an enriched user experience that transitions effortlessly between fitness, relaxation, and cultural engagement.

Bringing the Outdoors In: Blurred Spatial Boundaries

The architects at gad have masterfully dissolved the boundary between interior and exterior. Expansive floor-to-ceiling glass curtain walls open up to panoramic lake views, inviting sunlight, wind, and natural ambiance into the building. Strategically placed sunlight patios bring brightness into the heart of the interior, mimicking the openness of a natural cave and reinforcing a biophilic design approach that prioritizes human connection with nature.

Interior and Landscape Synergy

The interior design, crafted by Matrix Design, complements the architecture through calming palettes, natural textures, and seamless flow. Meanwhile, gdi Design’s landscape architecture amplifies the project’s visual softness and ecological sensitivity, integrating native vegetation and gentle water features that echo the tranquility of the lake.

All the photographs are works of Qiwen