Cloudhaus Hotel: A Mountain Sanctuary Born from Local Craft and Sustainable Vision

Words by Eric David

14 January 2026

Cloudhaus Hotel: A Mountain Sanctuary Born from Local Craft and Sustainable Vision

Words by Eric David

14 January 2026

Memorable Stays

Nanchuan, Chongqing, China

Perched on the northern slope of the Jinfo Mountain in Chongqing's Nanchuan District, the Cloudhaus Hotel exemplifies how contemporary hospitality design can honour regional identity while embracing principles of sustainability and adaptive reuse. Occupying what was once the sales office of a nearby resort, the 24-room hotel was designed by RooMoo Design Studio in dialogue with its scenic setting: a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, Jinfo Mountain boasts a landscape of dramatic karst formations, dense bamboo forests, deep gorges and cliff-side trails, along with a long-standing Buddhist culture. This mountainous context provided both the physical and conceptual foundation for the hotel’s design, shaped as much by the availability of locally sourced materials as by the region’s vernacular architecture and craft heritage. Guided by the Studio’s instinct for understated elegance and underpinned by a commitment to reuse and low-waste construction, the result is a soulful sanctuary that feels deeply rooted in place and yet thoroughly contemporary.

Rather than approaching the project with predetermined concepts, RooMoo embarked on an extensive period of varied field research during which they explored the mountainous landscape, documented local resources such as catalogued traditional building techniques, and visited nearby wood factories, whilst observing bamboo harvesting practices. This accumulation of material and cultural knowledge was distilled into an architectural vocabulary that informed every aspect of the hotel’s design, from the reconstructed façade to interior specifications and finishing details. Sustainability also played a pivotal role where salvaging and repurposing materials unearthed during construction and mountain exploration became the core design driver rather than a supporting gesture.

An atmospheric twilight view of the hotel entrance reveals a Zen-inspired courtyard. Dark timber fencing and slate steps lead toward a gabled structure with intricate bamboo screen inserts. Soft, focused uplighting illuminates a specimen tree and the warm, glowing interior visible through large glass doors, establishing a mood of quiet, sophisticated hospitality.

Photography by Wen Studio.

At dusk, the hotel glows like a lantern against the darkening forest. The modular design of the facade is highlighted by integrated lighting, emphasizing the textures of the bamboo panels and the stone base. Large windows offer a glimpse into the warm, inviting guest rooms, while the misty mountain light creates a serene, ethereal atmosphere.

Photography by Wen Studio.

A high-angle perspective showcases the hotel’s spatial relationship with the terrain. Private guest terraces, enclosed by rustic bamboo screens, create secluded outdoor pockets. The composition emphasizes the contrast between the clean, geometric lines of the white architecture and the organic, sprawling greenery of the mountain, lit by a soft, amber evening glow. — Photography by Wen Studio.

Architecturally, the Studio has reorganised the original, somewhat generic five-storey block with the aim of creating a clearer dialogue with the neighbouring mountain. The lower level, designed to resemble a stone plinth, thanks to its façade clad in dark local rock that anchors the building to the terrain, gives way to a cantilevered white framework above which extends vertically along the main façade, echoing the mountain’s steep incline whilst articulating the guestroom balconies. Extensive glazing between the vertical frames brings in ample natural light, opening up sweeping views of the valley, while infill bamboo panels on the lateral façades and bamboo partitions delineating a series of private courtyards for the ground-floor guestrooms introduce warmth and texture. At the very top, the building is crowned by a tiled gabled roof, punctuated by a timber-and-bamboo canopy that shelters a deep terrace on the top floor.

Arrival has been rethought as a journey through landscape. From the winding mountain road, guests first encounter an enclosed plaza defined by a bamboo fence laced with bands of green plastic tape in what is a direct translation of local railing techniques. From there, a bridge leads to the hotel’s reception and lobby on the top floor, while the 24 rooms are evenly distributed on the four floors below. Additionally, guests can enter via the underground parking on the lower floor, where the restaurant is also located, or through a landscaped courtyard above, a quirky configuration made possible by the site’s steep topography.

Photography by Wen Studio.
Photography by Wen Studio.
Photography by Wen Studio.

A sun-drenched, neo-vernacular facade nestled into a lush Chinese hillside. The architecture features a rhythmic interplay of white structural frames, warm timber cladding, and expansive glazing. Terraced gardens with bamboo fencing step down the slope, creating a biophilic connection between the multi-level hotel and the surrounding dense forest under a clear, bright sky.

Photography by Wen Studio.

The top-floor terrace unfolds beneath a timber-and-bamboo canopy, casting rhythmic shadows across dark tiled floors and low-slung seating. Open to sweeping mountain vistas, the space blurs interior and exterior, reinforcing the hotel’s quiet, biophilic relationship with its setting.

Photography by Wen Studio.

Once inside, guests are met with panoramic mountain views courtesy of floor-to-ceiling glazing. Rather than competing with the drama outside, the interior design defers to it through a carefully composed palette of locally sourced and salvaged materials such as bamboo, wood and black stone.

In the public areas on the top floor, split bamboo panels clad the walls and pitched ceiling, their alternating vertical, horizontal and diagonal striations lending the space a rhythmic visual energy. Clean lines and simple furniture temper the textural richness which aid in creating a contemporary atmosphere, while two decorative installations, crafted in collaboration with local bamboo weavers, one suspended above the bar, the other further along the space, soften the geometry with their playful ring and disc forms.

In a multi-purpose space adjoining the lobby, a hut-like structure made from timber salvaged from an abandoned mountain cabin demarcates a stage for performances, topped with a chequered canopy inspired by the bright tiles of ancient Western Sichuan roofs.

A processional corridor lined with blackened timber panels leads the eye toward a glazed opening and mountain views beyond. Overhead, a looping bamboo installation softens the axial geometry, introducing a sense of movement and craft into the otherwise restrained, contemplative space. — Photography by Wen Studio.

A generous lobby interior combines blackened wood surfaces, bamboo ceilings, and expansive glazing that frames the surrounding mountains. A suspended fireplace and modular seating establish a calm, communal atmosphere, where material warmth offsets the clarity of the architectural lines. — Photography by Wen Studio.

The reception desk is set against a wall of intricately arranged bamboo panels, their varied textures and orientations creating subtle visual depth. Dark timber counters and muted lighting ground the space, balancing artisanal richness with contemporary restraint.

Photography by Wen Studio.

The bar area features a curved counter clad in reclaimed wood and patterned inserts, animated by a sculptural bamboo installation overhead. Natural light filters through large windows, softening the graphic contrasts and reinforcing the project’s balance between craft and contemporary form.

Photography by Wen Studio.

A symmetrical view of the lobby’s performance stage highlights the exposed timber framework and bamboo roof structure above. The composition emphasises spatial clarity and structural honesty, with recycled materials shaping a flexible gathering space rooted in local construction traditions. — Photography by Wen Studio.

Photography by Wen Studio.
Photography by Wen Studio.
Photography by Wen Studio.
Photography by Wen Studio.

A woven bamboo pendant light hovers above a compact counter, its layered rings casting delicate shadows across the space. Framed by white columns and dark timber floors, the scene captures the hotel’s Zen-like material palette and its emphasis on handcrafted detail.

Photography by Wen Studio.

Layered bamboo pendant lights hover above a lounge area furnished with low, upholstered seating. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame forested slopes, while woven wall panels and muted tones create a Zen-like atmosphere that privileges light, texture and quiet conversation.

Photography by Wen Studio.

An open-plan restaurant unfolds beneath a bamboo-lined ceiling and exposed brick volumes, articulated by timber posts. The layered materials and filtered daylight evoke a contemporary rustic sensibility, where spatial fluidity and handcrafted textures anchor the interior firmly to its mountainous setting.

Photography by Wen Studio.

A close-up of the bar area highlights the contrast between rough stone masonry, warm timber cladding and a minimalist artwork. Handcrafted stools and woven pendant lights reinforce the tactile, artisanal language that defines the hotel’s understated interior identity.

Photography by Wen Studio.

A brick-clad volume punctuated by recessed shelving and soft shadows, emphasizing mass and materiality. The dense grid of bricks and horizontal timber ledges lends a subtle brutalist undertone, softened by warm hues and artisanal finishes.

Photography by Wen Studio.

A compact reception counter wrapped in textured brick and capped with woven bamboo detailing. The interplay of rough masonry and finely layered natural fibres highlights the project’s tactile richness, balancing vernacular references with a quiet, modern discipline.

Photography by Wen Studio.

The restaurant interior pairs exposed stone walls with reclaimed timber surfaces and simple wooden furniture. Soft daylight filters through roof openings, illuminating a communal dining layout that balances rustic materiality with contemporary clarity and a sense of grounded hospitality. — Photography by Wen Studio.

Occupying a ground-floor annex created by extending the original parking area, the restaurant carries the vocabulary of reclamation into the dining environment. Red bricks removed during the building’s renovation were repurposed to build a textured wall separating the kitchen which is topped by a decorative bulkhead made from leftover bamboo scaffolding treads; offcut stones were used as wall cladding while locally collected rock and gravel is embedded in the terrazzo floors; even the cushions are sewn from reused fabrics. Despite this rich tapestry of textures, the space remains serene and pared-back thanks to simple, honest furniture and an otherwise restrained material palette. Daylight filtering through bamboo-lined skylights further enhances the warm, grounded atmosphere.

Long wooden benches line the restaurant beside stone walls and tall windows, creating an informal dining zone bathed in natural light. The restrained palette and honest materials underscore a neo-vernacular sensibility rooted in local construction traditions.

Photography by Wen Studio.

A ceiling detail reveals bamboo slats set within a timber frame, filtering daylight into the space below. The precise yet irregular pattern exemplifies RooMoo Design Studio’s use of local craft techniques to shape light, atmosphere and spatial intimacy.

Photography by Wen Studio.

A dining nook enclosed by stone walls and timber panelling, furnished with pale wood chairs and woven-upholstered banquettes. The composition feels intimate and grounded, with natural textures and filtered light reinforcing the hotel’s calm, biophilic ethos.

Photography by Wen Studio.

A dining room framed by thick stone walls and a rhythmic row of slender windows, filtering soft mountain light onto timber tables. Natural stone, warm wood, and muted textiles create a neo-vernacular atmosphere where solidity and delicacy coexist, reflecting Roomoo Design Studio’s restrained, landscape-led approach.

Photography by Wen Studio.

The design of the 24 rooms maintains the project's overarching philosophy, harmoniously incorporating earthy tones, natural materials and handcrafted details. The furniture, most of which is produced in nearby Nanchuan, keeps the language simple and cohesive while rooting the project in the local economy and landscape. Typologies range from compact twins to suites with dedicated living areas, all striking the same balance of restraint and comfort, inviting guests to focus less on decoration and more on the uninterrupted mountain views.

RooMoo Design Studio’s renovation does not try to outdo it’s surrounding dramatic scenery; instead, it uses it as a constant backdrop, allowing interiors to be quietly animated by shifting light, mist and weather. For guests, this translates into an experience where staying put can be as compelling as setting out on the region’s scenic trails. In a place long associated with pilgrimage and contemplation, Cloudhaus offers a contemporary form of retreat that folds ecological frugality, local craft and spatial clarity into the larger story of the Jinfo Mountain.