A sturdy concrete form, stark in its rational geometry with a playful contrast of softness and rigidity, nestles deep within the forests of Wuling Mountain in China. Designed by Vector Architects, the Wulingshan Eye Stone Spring is a sculptural building, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. In a context largely untouched by built forms, the hulking recreational architecture heralds developments soon to come. Notably, the site and surroundings where the design by the Chinese architects is located will be home to a new real estate development by Aranya.

The real estate company has previously (and quite famously) conceived a property located about a four-hour drive from Beijing that claims to be a retreat from the chaos of urban life and a return to nature for its residents and visitors. Dotted with experiments in form and materiality by some of the leading architectural practices in the country, it exemplifies how real estate exploits the virtues of architecture to create value; communal as well as monetary. Lightly touching the ground, with a cliff to the west and expansive plains to the east, Vector Architects conceived this retreat to create “an apparatus of the steaming hot spring, [while minimising] the impact of the building on the original landscape.” This minimalistic approach to the architecture guides the entire project.

Raised above the pine needle-covered forest floor on concrete stilts, the spa’s form frames openness and enclosure in parts. It embodies a staid Brutalism, embracing the rawness of materials such as concrete for the functional and aesthetic honesty it lends to the facade design. The building’s façade incorporates expansive glass panels and carefully placed portals, balancing transparency with solidity to enhance the dynamics of light and shadow. Brass and teakwood accents juxtapose against the exposed concrete, creating a dialogue between ruggedness and refinement.

The use of concrete in such bold gestures has significantly diminished in contemporary architecture in the West, with architects opting for locally based materials or modular techniques for a more sustainable, carbon-neutral approach to construction. The prevalence of concrete in Chinese architecture on the other hand, not only signals an alternative aspiration towards an aesthetic of modernist progress, but its idealisation. 

Vector Architects’ projects consistently embrace sculptural forms that merge bold materiality with their significant environments. The Chapel of Sound, situated within a public plaza in Qinhuangdao's Aranya community, exemplifies this approach—a structure that transcends functionality to become a statement within its context. Similarly, in the Wulingshan Eye Stone Spring, materiality, form and dialogue with the natural surroundings, transform the building into an evocative medium of dialogue between architecture and its habitat.

Each level of the hospitality architecture offers a distinct spatial experience. The approach itself is an invitation to engage with the setting—a steel arch bridge spans a tranquil stream, leading visitors along a forest trail that transitions seamlessly into the spring house. As guests ascend through the retreat, new vistas unfold—the first floor introduces the earthy warmth of teakwood in the reception and preparation spaces. The transparent walls of the lounge on the second floor bring guests face-to-face with the dynamic interplay of natural light filtering through the forest canopy of poplar trees. The relationship between the architecture and its surroundings evolves with each step, gradually revealing a deeper connection to the panorama.

The third floor culminates the architectural narrative with a series of baths illuminated by eight-metre-high skylights. These cylindrical light wells diffuse sunlight into soft beams, creating a tranquil ambience. Strip windows on the western façade frame vistas of rock cliffs and treetops, enhancing the serene atmosphere. Bush-hammered concrete surfaces are treated to offer a nuanced, textured finish that invites touch, combined with the subtle variations in the surfaces, providing a tactile sense of depth. Through these design choices, the interior design reinforces the structure’s duality—strong yet inviting, austere yet warm. A balanced sense of contrast, where the materials' solidity meets a gentle sensory embrace, creates an environment that feels both substantial and intimate.

The Wulingshan Eye Stone Spring is a worthy paradigm of Aranya’s ethos of crafting spaces that inspire reflection and foster deeper connections with nature and wellness. By raising the building on columns, preserving the slope and incorporating natural ventilation, Vector Architects demonstrate how minimal intervention can yield a significant impact.

Its raised structure respects the natural terrain and geometric form and reimagines spatial interactions through its orchestrated vertical stacking, where each level is carefully positioned to maximise views to the outside. Incorporating strategic light wells and apertures to manipulate the passage of light, that casts dynamic shadows and highlights key elements of the space throughout the day, the building becomes a stage, light and nature its key performers. By skillfully juxtaposing raw materiality with refined detailing, Vector Architects create spaces that are both functional and inspiring.

This project highlights the transformative power of architecture, showcasing how innovative design can shape experiences and perceptions. By uniting form, light and texture, the retreat creates a sensory journey where every element contributes to a cohesive narrative. Visitors are invited into a space where architecture transcends functionality, creating opportunities for reflection and inspiration that resonate with the natural beauty surrounding it. This philosophy permeates throughout the retreat, where the solidity of concrete interacts with the fluid warmth of hot springs, allowing the design to elevate the human experience.

Project Details

Name: Wulingshan Eye Stone Spring
Location: Chengde Xinglong County Wulingshan Aranya, Hebei, China
Client: Aranya, Chengde
Design team:
Principal Architect: Dong Gong
Project Architect: Zhao Liangliang, Tan Yeqian
Design Management: Zhang Han
Construction Management: Zhao Liangliang, Li Jinteng
Site Architect: Tan Yeqian, Zhang Zhiyi (Intern), Wang Weichen (Intern)
Design Team: Li Jiahui, Sun Yingyi, Zeng Zihao, Wang Feiyu, Zhang Liwen
Collaborators:
Construction Contractor: Chengde County Hongsheng Construction & Installation Engineering Co., Ltd., Beijing Wandanhui Building Decoration Engineering Group Co., Ltd
Structural Design: Cheng Jun, Yang Yuwei, Peng Li
MEP Design: Shi Xinkai, Xu Dingding, Zhang Jie
Lighting Design: Toryo International Lighting Design Center
Facade Consultant: RFR Building Design Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd
Landscape Design: Horizon & Atmosphere Landscape Co.
Spring Technical Consultant: DSL Technology Group Ltd.
Furniture Design: ziinlife
Signage Design: Beijing SEED Cultural Media Co., Ltd., Beijing Tushi Space Creative Design Co., Ltd.
Building Area: 560sqm（Ground Area: 360sqm, Underground Area: 200sqm）
Footprint Area: 131 sqm
Site Area: 600 sqm
Year of Completion: 2024

(Text by Aditya Kumar, intern at STIR)