Cloudtop of Xishuangbanna

Guanlan Yunding (A Retreat by the Lancang River) is a demonstration landscape in Jinghong, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan, designed by DDON, with structural engineering by Shenzhen Xing'an Construction Group, developed by Xishuangbanna Global Century Exhibition Tourism Development. Designed in 2019 and completed in 2020 on about 0.87 hectare, the site faces the Lancang River and backs onto the Xishuangbanna Primeval Forest Park, rich in Dai ethnicity and tropical rainforest character; the design uses the site's natural grade change to build a layered rainforest realm. With a small site and large elevation difference, the design exploits its 'hollow' quality, extracting ethnic motifs and intensifying rainforest atmosphere to imprint local culture on a clean, calm base that fuses with the surrounding environment. The circulation separates pedestrians and vehicles, and the pedestrian experience is pushed to the limit: from the iconic entrance, through the coconut-lined avenue, to the water-curtain wall and infinity pool in the front court, and finally to the deep forest boardwalk, sight and touch are fully engaged. Because the entrance has a large grade change and limited landscape area, tiered planters soften the elevation, local natural-face granite sets the natural tone, and oil palms and traveller's palms are layered for rainforest effect. The front court is only six metres wide, purely transitional, so its four-metre elevation is used as a vertical design element: a water-curtain wall lets passing visitors experience cascading water, and the curtain texture and sales-gallery paving draw on tropical-plant and Dai motifs. Beyond the sales gallery, the project reaches its climax: the landmark building, pool, sky, Lancang River and distant forest form a natural landscape painting where water and sky meet, drawing from nature, of nature, in harmony with nature. Poolside terraces and the approach to the spirit monument use linear and angular paving to guide and distinguish functions; seating at the pool entrance supports pool parties and tea ceremonies as a multi-use living room. The forest boardwalk links arrival home through the rainforest, releasing fatigue and energising residents. The client later reported that the retreat has become an internet-famous destination where couples propose and take wedding photographs, a result the designers say gives the work its true meaning.