BAMBOO HOSTELS

BAMBOO HOSTELS

*COLLABORATION

• Project: Studio Anna Heringer
•  Architectural and technical planning: Stefano Mori

The project

The 3 bamboo hostels have been part of the Longquan International Biennale. An event for which 12 architects were invited to build permanent structures and whose purpose was to promote constructions in bamboo and other traditional materials.

The 3 buildings (2 hostels and 1 guesthouse) show how traditional, natural materials can be used in contemporary ways. The structure of the hostels is formed out of a core made of stones and rammed earth. The core hosts all facility units and the stairs. Attached to it are the sleeping units. The latter are designed like Chinese lampshades that gloom in the night. Around them is an expressive structure out of woven bamboo.

One of the cultural identities of this rural region is ceramic vessels. Those were the inspirations behind the shapes.

The energy system is based on direct and ‘archaic’ sources like fire and sun, wind, shade, plants and the concept of minimizing the conditioned spaces. Rather than making a huge effort in both money and resources for controlling the climate of the entire volume of the hostels, only the core – that hosts the utility rooms – and the cocoons are thermally controlled. They are protected from the rain and have heating or cooling options on a very low-tech level. The fire is used as a heating source through an effective oven that also heats warm water for the showers supported by solar collectors, while creating a communicative atmosphere in the common rooms.