DESIGN NAME: California C House
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Desert Hotels
INSPIRATION: Americans tend to honor the independence of their living space, that’s why they are more inclined towards a 70-year old unrenovated "house of solitude" in the desert rather than a commercial hotel in the city center. This preference for privacy leads to a deeper assimilation with the nature.
UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: C House is designed as a resort-style inn, just like the letter C with a minimalist style and constructed using pure wood. The design is inspired by the traditional layout of Beijing's courtyard homes. Through sunlight analysis, residents can bask in the outdoor courtyard and admire the natural surroundings without worrying about sunburn. The interior of C House blends minimalism and elegance, and natural materials and soothing color hues make the space fascinating.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: The immersive lodging project initiated by Somewhere, with a strong passion and benchmarked to high standards, serves as a bridge between travelers and destinations. It gives travelers a closer look at local culture, human experiences, natural landscapes, and historical backgrounds, creatively integrating into the local community and embracing its unique flavors.
PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: In seven years or more since its establishment, the market has been speaking highly of Somewhere. Operating fourteen popular lodges, Somewhere has undertaken projects ranging from renovating older homes to managing a 1,100-mu land bank. The initiative kicked off on June 2022 for planning and wrapped up on October 2023.
FITS BEST INTO CATEGORY: Interior Space and Exhibition Design
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PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: Somewhere desires a higher level of customization from the design team in China for their furnishings to be shipped to the U.S. for installation. This included the design and customization of all soft furnishings, such as the headboard, by the Chinese design team. Through various simulations and minor adjustments in dimensions, the team ensured a perfect fit upon installation at the site.
SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: 381㎡
TAGS: Minimalist, C-House, Space, Resort Lodging, Wabi Sab
RESEARCH ABSTRACT: In the age of 'sharing' and 'experience9; driven by the rapid growth of the Internet, it is evident that the differentiate products and services for shared housing economy have been widely attended in the United States and globally. Consumers have developed a keen understanding and acceptance of the lodging consumption culture as part of the sharing and experience economy.
CHALLENGE: As a Chinese design entity, we once faced the biggest challenge in this project, as we customarily think and worker differently from American workers. Even though the design team wanted to blend intricate details into the project which should have been easily done in China, for example, installing embedded light strips, but local workers refused to have a try. They preferred simplicity and feared that complex processes will lead to higher costs, potentially leading the owner to forget about it. This is a bit of regret.
ADDED DATE: 2024-03-20 02:37:20
TEAM MEMBERS (1) : Doubleteams x Somewhere
IMAGE CREDITS: Double Teams Design Consultant Co.,Ltd., 2023.
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