Situated in Suizhou City in Hubei Province of China, within the Guangjiachong Valley, is Moguang Studio's Treehouse, a raised sanctuary specifically created for the Lost Villa · Ginkgo Valley Hotel. Suizhou has a rich history dating back to the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BCE), a time of political fragmentation and cultural development in ancient China. It was once part of the State of Sui/Zeng and within the cultural sphere of the State of Chu. The city is now well known for its beautiful scenery, particularly the Ginkgo Valley Scenic Area, which is located just 15 minutes from the project site. This rich cultural and natural heritage sets the stage for projects where design harmonises with its surroundings. The ginkgo tree, a symbol of endurance and longevity in Chinese culture, frames the architectural narrative of the project.

Moguang Studio, founded by Feng Xin and Li Jiaying in Beijing in 2019, subscribes to a design philosophy derived from the movement of a folding fan, mirroring a strategy that starts with a central idea and unfolds into more complex forms.

The Treehouse is strategically positioned at the junction of two paths, addressing the challenges of a constrained 190 sq.m. site interspersed with three mature trees that significantly influenced its architectural footprint. Rather than overwriting the landscape, the architects developed a strategy of elevation, thus converting the ground level into an active public space and situating the private guest rooms under the sheltering canopy of the ginkgo. This tension—of an active lower plane and a serene higher plane—represents the delicate balance between nature and built forms. The decision to design this home reflects an understanding of Suizhou’s evolving identity. Once marked by its historical significance, the region now serves as a canvas for contemporary projects. Its design demonstrates that architecture can become a tool for storytelling, embedding layers of meaning within the fabric of the landscape.

The building's architectural form is not random or ornamental. Instead, it results from strict geometric design principles and visual responses on the site. Its volume was the result of a definite outline of control lines that respond to the site's irregular shapes. A 60-degree rotation of the central staircase core enhanced spatial flow and created a dynamic interplay of light and structure.

Visitors experience the building as a journey of discovery, moving from tree shadows on the ground floor to a hidden staircase design that leads to a platform overlooking distant palm groves. This progression by discovery increases the perceived extent of the site beyond its physical boundaries. At night, the interior lighting highlights the metallic fluorocarbon finish, making the staircase and columns shimmer with ambient light, giving an impression of a hovering craft, an otherworldly creature poised for flight.

The Treehouse deliberately forgoes standard windows in favour of purely abstract geometric cutaways intended to provide thoughtful views, not as openings. Roll-out panels, quietly integrated into walls, maintain the integrity of the design without offering residents any ability to block out light and airflow.

Inside, spatial boundaries are intentionally blurred with non-orthogonal forms, producing an uncertain sequence of movement. The northeast guestroom adopts a 60-degree skewed plan, with an entry foyer and tearoom, while its counterpart in the southwest introduces a curved staircase to divide a bathing area and a peaceful relaxation space. These deviations from typical layouts create a feeling of playfulness and decentralisation, thus transforming the holiday home into a fascinating architectural landscape.

The material palette, encompassing reflective brown metallic paint, textured white stucco and charred cedar, draws attention to the project's integration with the surroundings. The light interacting with the materials alters the metallic tones in harmony with the surrounding vegetation, while the stucco scatters shadows and charred wood traps sunlight, giving the façade a nuanced, naturalised quality.

With contrasting texture, the 30x45 cm varnished and partially polished carbonised cedar planks present charred surfaces that provide insect and moisture protection. This finishing technique contributes to the longevity of the wood architecture project and serves as a protective coat, reinforcing its character as an ambiguous presence in the surroundings.

Sustainability is woven into every aspect of the project. Preserving the mature trees on site and selecting materials like charred cedar for their durability and eco-friendliness has set an example of thoughtful and resource-conscious design. The emphasis on lightweight steel reduces material waste, while the elevated structure ensures minimal disturbance to the forest floor, allowing the ecosystem to thrive.

The project uses a hybrid structural design system to fulfil the challenge of leaving existing trees intact. The use of independent foundations, steel structures and concrete shear walls provide structural stability and minimise root system stress. Precision-cut lightweight steel frames on the second storey optimise space efficiency and simplify assembly.

The interaction between structural pragmatism and contextual sensitivity enables the Treehouse to operate at one moment as a façade within the forest and at another as a cohesive part of that setting—a sanctuary that reconfigures the relationship between architectural form and the natural environment.

The Treehouse is sculptural, experiential architecture—a space that redefines dwelling as an interplay of form, movement and context. The project succeeds, not in its dramatic appearance, but in its ability to convert limitations into opportunity, where geometry guides human interaction and the built form is a conduit for the rhythms of nature. Elevated in both form and experience, the house transcends mere accommodation; it becomes a temporary observatory, a playground for the senses and a canvas for light, shadow and leaves to harmonise together.

Project Details

Name: The Treehouse: Mask in the Forest
Architect: Moguang Studio
Location: Guangjiachong, Jiukouyan Village, Luoyang Town, Suizhou City, Hubei Province
Typology: Hospitality / Guest Accommodation
Client: Lost Villa · Ginkgo Valley Hotel
Lead Architects: Li Jiaying, Feng Xin
Design Team: Li Jiaying, Feng Xin, Shen Zhiyu, Pan Yongjia, Zhang Kuangzhi
Structural Design: Ma Zhigang
MEP Team: He Chunhui, Liu Hongfei, Wei Tianliang
Photography: Su Shengliang, Moguang Studio, Tang Xuguo, Eone
Video Team: SCHRAN Image
Construction Team: Shanghai Ye You Zhu Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd.
Area: 190 sq m
Year of Completion: 2023