recycled red bricks and reed bundles build up a hostel in shanghai

RooMoo’s hostel in Shanghai celebrates slow-paced living

Chinese design studio RooMoo reconstructs an old building transforming it into a resort space standing in harmony with the natural landscape of Chongming Island in Shanghai. The ‘SOM LAND’ hostel takes its name from the traditional Chinese color of warm green referencing mottled gaps in the tree shadows and celebrating slow-paced living. Following a moderately restrained renovation plan, the project combines local customs and handicrafts with an overall spatial arrangement that is not detrimental to its surrounding environment, on the contrary, integrates it into the architectural scheme.

The accommodation unit is located between Laoji Port and Hongmei Road encountering water on both sides adjacent to national preservation areas of forests and rivers. Both the position of the construction and the plantation management reinforce the connection with nature following an organic development of ‘low maintenance’ in favor of naturally growing vegetation. Under the sustainable design method, the planning uses recycled old wood boards, wasted red bricks, reed bundles and tree branches found on site, bamboo, and other locally sourced or discarded materials to reduce waste. 

‘SOM LAND’ hostel by RooMoo | all images by Wen Studio

A moderate renovation plan optimizes the spatial layout

Shanghai-based design studio RooMoo adopts a protective renovation plan for the hostel design reconstructing the two existing buildings on site for spatial optimization. Following Chongming’s local building regulations, the project retains the original two-story structure’s height and vertical shadow range, while rearranging the space to form a three-floor accommodation unit. The initial tool house transforms into a general reception volume. The exterior remodels the roof shape, the window positioning and sizing, and the outer facades, while the interior increases the number of floors, adjusts the room layout, and relocates the main staircases. 

New design strategies provide space reconstruction that matches the new requirements of the hostel adjusting the overall layout. The studio’s critical direction of ‘moderate restraint’ renovates the existing building optimizing the height of each floor and avoiding the vertical expansion of the entire structure. The resort benefits from a shift in the position of the main staircase to the middle of the north side enhancing the circulation flow and the visual continuity of the interior. A skylight of transparent glass and steel frame tops the common zone distributing natural light throughout. The number and size of window openings are preserved and organically apportioned on the facade. 

the project retains the original structure’s height forming a three-floor accommodation unit

roomoo applies locally sourced and reused materials 

The plan assembles a new multi-functional zone serving as a kitchen, and a dining area, including a reception and two restrooms. A transparent glass and wood frame with a folding door system achieves the western space extension bringing more sunlight into the interior. One of the most intriguing features of the arrangement is a fireplace made of repurposed bricks standing under a curved bamboo ceiling. The laminated bamboo curved slates overhang above the common zone creating a warm ambiance.

The design method followed for the construction of the hostel develops a ‘non-machine’ standardized production applying local materiality sourced on-site. Recycled bricks, demolished wood from the original building, natural clay paint, tree branches, and old cloth compose both indoor and outdoor spaces. The concave-convex texture of the facade puts up reused bricks in a typical Chongming pattern, while the restored roof system forms out of reed poles in the manner of local traditional craft. The easy-to-collect bound twigs shelter the structure from wind and rainwater.

the spatial arrangement integrates the surrounding natural environment into the architectural scheme

a transparent glass and wood frame with a folding door system achieves the western space extension

the external walls apply reused bricks and the restored roof system forms out of reed poles

the hostel develops a ‘non-machine’ standardized production applying local materiality sourced on-site

the new multi-functional zone held within the glass extension benefits from natural light

the concave-convex texture of the facade puts up reused bricks in a typical Chongming pattern

a fireplace made of repurposed bricks stands under a curved bamboo ceiling

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RoomBuilding Westroom seating

RoomBuilding west room

RoomBuilding single-bedroom

Room Building F3 middle room

SOM LAND hostel yard

project info:

name: SOM LAND Hostel
designer: RooMoo Design Studio | @roomoodesign

design team: Ray Zhang, Tao Zhang, Marine Bois

construction: Shanghai Guixiang Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd.

lighting consultant: Shanghai Yiqu Laite Lighting Industry Co., Ltd.

location: Chongming, Shanghai, China

photography: Wen Studio | @wen_studio2020