The Seeds

In a forest in China, near Jiangxi, ZJJZ Atelier designed a whimsical collection of four cabins that are part of the far-larger Tree Wow Hotel. Wrapped in wood shingles and mirrored aluminum tiles, these organic structures are meant to reflect their natural surrounds.

The Shanghai studio said that the pods are inspired by natural forms that echo their scenic surroundings. Interestingly, when the project began, the client asked for the buildings to be based on a form found in nature. Rather than imitating a specific form, the architects (courtesy of Arch Daily), “focused on developing the spatial experience by staging views and establishing the relationship between the structures and their surrounding environment.”

When complete, The Seeds did not look like anything from the original plans. The resulting pod-like structures are round forms wrapped in pine shingles with circular openings. The shingles encase the majority of the exterior surfaces, minus the bottom sections where shiny aluminum tiles are present. The mirrored aluminum cladding is multi-purposed… in addition to reflecting the surroundings, it is the perfect material for changing weather and volatile seasons.

In the winter, the metal takes on the warmth of the red soil; in the spring and summer, the green plants are reflected in the cladding. Courtesy of an article by Samantha Pires for My Modern Met, “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.”

The cabins are placed on stilts to slightly elevate them from the ground, and each is accessed by a staircase. Inside, the pods are as amazing as they are from the outside. Thin strips of wood in slightly different shades of brown curve around the interior providing a warm feeling that is a perfect match to the palette. Thanks to these materials, the pods are cozy and calming enclosures for the guests.

Once inside, guests encounter a large master bedroom that overlooks gorgeous surroundings, a bathroom “hidden” in the back wall, and a lounge area that takes advantage of the tall interior space in the “attic” This part of the layout has a dramatic feel because of the circular window that frames the outside. The attic is an open-space designed specifically with children in mind.

The cabins’ functionality demands called for each pod to be designed with several circular openings in order to create internal sightlines that branch off in various directions. The circular opening on the pods’ front exterior leads to a terrace which was designed to appear as a platform levitating independently. In addition, a tree perforates the terrace in order to provide vital shade and the round window on the side gives way to a different sight… the woods outside. Up above, the large round windows in the attic point up to the sky and the tall trees’ branches.

We would be remiss not to mention the The Mushroom guesthouse which ZJJZ Ateliers designed prior to The Seeds. The hope was to give visitors a stay away from everyday life. Located near a popular scenic spot called Fairy Lake, The Mushroom was designed to have a dream-like, ethereal quality in order to pay image to local folklore which states that “a man is said to have fallen in love with a fairy at the lake.”

The Mushroom’s conical roof is covered with shingle caps and elevated above ground in order to minimize impact on the site. This elevation also encourages plants to surround the space over time. A circular skylight immerses the building with natural light and helps alter the atmosphere… of course depending on time and weather conditions. The hope is to focus on the views that come in through the large windows. Gorgeous indeed!