A Restored Mountain Villa Becomes Sisan Hupao 1934

A 1930s villa in Hangzhou underwent a four-year refurbishment by Chinese studio SYY DECORATION DESIGN to emerge as Sisan Hupao 1934, a boutique hotel nestled within bamboo groves and just a short hike from its namesake, Hupao Spring. We spoke with principal designers Xie Ke and Zhi Hongxin and lead architect Wang Chi to find out more

Design Anthology: Where is the hotel?

Xie Ke(XK): Sisan Hupao 1934’s location is hinted at in its name — ‘Hupao’ is for the famed Hupao Spring in southwestern Hangzhou, which the hotel is located very near to.

What’s interesting about this area?

Zhi Hongxin (ZH): The spring — also known as Dreaming of the Tiger Spring — is what makes this location so significant. The hotel could attract guests based on its location alone. There are bamboo groves, a gurgling stream and the famous spring, which is just a short hike from the hotel.

What unique features does the building have?

Wang Chi (WC): The building has been drastically altered from a mossy, mouldy, deserted site to become a boutique hotel. The preexisting duplex, once resigned to oblivion, is reborn as a tranquil sanctuary that is intended to catalyse growth in regional tourism.

In our design, we prioritised the actual ‘residue’ of history, like the mossy bricks (revamped and de-mossed), the broken handrails that we repurposed and some old gadgets and trinkets we found. So, the building’s unique features are actually its materials — we reused broken elements and made the new out of the old.

What was your design concept for the hotel?

ZH: We wanted the hotel to highlight the lush plants, and to be a meditative place surrounded by trees. We wanted to give guests a fascinating experience of the botanical world, with plenty of greenery to trigger positive emotions. We also wanted to have minimal impact on the environment.

What will guests look forward to experiencing in the rooms?

XK: The spaciousness and the connection to nature and greenery. The massive beds face the floor-to-ceiling windows, so the room is bathed in natural light. Through the window they can always see the treetops. Some of the guest rooms have their own terraces with a sliding door, perfect for catching the afternoon breeze.

Images / Tantan Lei