As one of the main venues for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Chongli has become a hub for China’s ice-and-snow economy. After years of robust development, the region is now renowned for the country’s most concentrated ski resorts, with ski tourism now serving as the backbone of local economy. As chief planner and architecture consultant, designRESERVE has contributed to create a new landmark in the valley. The design philosophy breaks away from the traditional Alpine cottage prototype, instead drawing inspiration from rural settlements of East Asia in sub-frigid zone to explore a contemporary architectural language for mountain dwelling. To address Chongli’s harsh climate, the team crafted flexible, undulating rooflines and meticulously calibrated openings to optimize indoor comfort. Building profiles were strategically shaped to balance natural light and enclosure during winter, creating a rhythm akin to natural mountain contours. Vertically, stepped balconies and gradients of materials and colors soften the buildings’ visual mass while hinting at change of function.
