Sway in the Mountains: Miao Village Stilted Wooden House Hotel

Qing Studio of Huazhong University of Science and Technology·Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, China

2025Hospitality · Unbuilt HospitalityHospitality + Sport

Year: 2025
Category: Hospitality · Unbuilt Hospitality
Type: Hospitality + Sport
Status: Concept
Firm: Qing Studio of Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Location: Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, China

This project is located deep in the mountains of Leishan County, Guizhou Province, and is a hotel transformed from a traditional Miao village settlement. As one of China's historically significant ethnic minorities, the Miao people have a distinct architectural feature in their dwellings: the elaborately decorated "Meiren Kao" (a type of ornamental bench) positioned at the center of the main facade. This prime spot in the house, bright and spacious, offers a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape.

It is where young Miao men and women often gather to sing, embroider, play the lusheng (a traditional reed instrument), or admire silver ornaments. In this design, the "Meiren Kao" has been replaced with a "swing" installation. On one hand, the swing retains the curved silhouette of the original feature; on the other, it adapts to the imminent shifts in lifestyle, extending its active usage scenarios with a contemporary logic. The goal is to breathe new life into the old village with minimal intervention, infusing the Miao settlement with renewed vitality and making it truly "sway."