Rustic Charm Inn: Tranquil Boutique Hotel near Disney Shanghai

Located in the quaint village next to Disney in Shanghai's Pudong district, the Rustic Charm Inn stands as a remarkable three-story boutique guesthouse hotel. With just 16 rooms, this unique establishment has been ingeniously converted from four residential houses and pigsties. The design of the Inn begins with an inward-looking courtyard, which serves as the focal point for the entire project. The high stone walls in the west open up the city, while the incomplete walls parallel to the two buildings in the north create a sense of mystery and seclusion within the inner courtyard space. These deliberate design choices aim to evoke a feeling of suspicion and weaken the desire, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the serene ambiance.

To enhance the tension and texture of the space, several inner courtyards were extended from the original buildings. One courtyard faces north and south, while the other faces east and west. This expansion not only provides the guest rooms on the first floor with increased tranquility and privacy but also allows them to embrace the dynamic changes of the surrounding cityscape. As guests traverse through the courtyards, they are met with the captivating interplay between the high and low walls, creating a selective dialogue between the internal and external environments. This interaction with the surrounding architecture further accentuates the feeling of distance from the bustling city.

The architectural design employs a seamless logic, wrapping the entire building with simple materials. The two interconnected roofs seamlessly merge into one, creating a sense of continuity. The wooden houses undergo a transformative process, resulting in a dynamic shift from front to rear. The white mechanism interweaves with the wooden grille, blending the white walls and white clouds together and giving the illusion that the entire building is floating amidst the sky. An upward ramp in the middle of the Inn directs one's gaze towards the heavens, while its scale mimics the shape of the village behind, creating a harmonious connection between the architecture and its surroundings. The dramatic change in the steel plate that forms the ramp adds an air of dignity and wildness to the walk.

The second-floor guest rooms boast window holes and floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing the picturesque outdoor scenery to seamlessly merge with the interior space. A north-south window view connects the guest rooms to the bamboo forest on the other side of the river and the untouched green space to the north, providing a glimpse into the unspoiled wonders of nature. As guests reach the end of the super-large frame hole ramps, they are greeted by the breathtaking expanse of the blue sky, evoking a sense of nostalgia and transporting them through a timeless tunnel of memories. The ever-changing white walls serve to erase the mundane memories of the past and guide guests towards embracing the beauty of their surroundings.

In this hidden gem in Shanghai, time, place, troubles, and even one's own self can be momentarily forgotten. The Rustic Charm Inn, created by the visionary architects at Yuanxiuwan Architect & Associates, offers an escape from the ordinary and invites guests to immerse themselves in a world of serenity and natural beauty.

Read also about the Captivating Noble Village: Meticulous Assisted Living Design project