ChaiYao Resort

Located in Jingdezhen, China—the historic heart of Chinese porcelain production — ChaiYao Resort transforms a former porcelain factory into a rural boutique hotel rooted in the cultural and material heritage of its site. Once defined by its industrial character and traditional firewood kilns, or "Chai Yao", the existing complex is reimagined as a contemporary hospitality destination that establishes a sensitive dialogue between local culture, the surrounding landscape, and the original architecture. The adaptive reuse preserves the memory of the site while creating an immersive and restorative experience for guests.



The design draws inspiration from the traditional porcelain-making process, tracing its transformation from the collection of raw materials through forming, drying, firing, and glazing. These stages—shaped by natural forces, craftsmanship, and generations of local knowledge—inform the spatial sequence, material palette, and atmosphere of the resort. Architecture and interiors become part of a continuous narrative, guiding guests through a journey that reflects the transformation of porcelain itself.



A new CLT structure takes particular inspiration from the drying stage, when individual porcelain pieces are carefully arranged on timber shelves. Conceived as an inhabitable “drying rack,” the structural framework supports guest rooms and shared spaces as distinct volumes within a larger collective system. This relationship creates a deliberate balance between openness and retreat: warm, interconnected timber platforms encourage social interaction, while more intimate rooms provide moments of quiet and privacy. Through this reinterpretation of local craft, ChaiYao Resort transforms an industrial heritage site into a contemporary expression of place, material, and hospitality.