Poodom Deqin Meri Hotel by BUZZ/ Büro Ziyu Zhuang

Perched at 3,600 meters above sea level on the Wunongding Viewing Platform east of the Meri Snow Mountain, the Poodom Deqin Meri Hotel is strategically located to face the sacred Thirteen Peaks of Meri. This remarkable natural tableau extends for a hundred miles, creating a panorama of snow-capped summits that shifts with the seasons. Behind the hotel rises the Baima Snow Mountain, while on one side a dramatic valley plunges nearly vertically toward Deqin County. Such a formidable setting demanded an architecture of subtlety, respect, and harmony, rather than exaggerated gestures or monumentality.

Conceptual Vision

The hotel’s design philosophy centers on the role of architecture as a mediator between nature and culture. Rather than imposing a rigid form upon the landscape, the building seeks to amplify the intrinsic energy of its surroundings, translating it into an immersive, contemplative experience for guests. Every spatial decision—horizontal extension, staggered levels, rotated volumes—is guided by a desire to weave interior and exterior environments together, creating fluid transitions between intimate and open spaces. The architecture dissolves into the Tibetan landscape, employing pure hues and locally sourced materials that echo the mountains’ textures and tones.

Spatial Experience and Organization

Poodom Hotel unfolds as a horizontal composition, mirroring the natural ridges and contours of the alpine terrain. Its staggered levels articulate a series of spaces that vary in scale and intimacy, encouraging exploration and engagement with both the interior and surrounding landscape. Circulation is designed as a ritualized movement, guiding guests along pathways that frame dramatic sightlines and reveal shifting views of the peaks. The sequence of spaces transforms mere circulation into a sensory pilgrimage, where each corridor, terrace, and stair becomes an encounter with the mountains.

Within, the architecture fosters a sense of vertical spatial fluidity. Natural light and sightlines are manipulated to produce a “vertical flowing garden,” where spatial narratives unfold continuously as guests move through the hotel. Interior volumes are carefully rotated and articulated, blurring the distinction between inside and outside. The resulting spaces allow guests to experience the landscape from multiple perspectives, revealing new angles, light qualities, and seasonal changes with every visit.

Integration with Landscape

The hotel’s design emphasizes coexistence with nature rather than domination over it. By extending horizontally and stepping down the slope, the structure minimizes visual disruption while maintaining a strong presence within the site. The use of natural and locally sourced materials enables the hotel to merge seamlessly with its surroundings, fostering a dialogue between architecture and environment. Outdoor terraces, balconies, and intermediate courtyards further enhance this connection, allowing guests to encounter the landscape directly, unmediated by walls or barriers.

The building frames nature as a living canvas, acting as a vessel for the alpine panorama. Architectural elements guide the eye toward the peaks while offering intimate vantage points within the hotel. Seasonal changes in snow, sunlight, and shadow are reflected in the experience of the interior spaces, creating an architecture that is ephemeral yet enduring, dynamic yet grounded in permanence.

Materiality and Sustainability

Material choices reinforce the hotel’s sensitivity to place. Natural stone, timber, and muted finishes echo the colors and textures of the surrounding mountains, while glazing and open terraces maximize daylight and visual connection. The staggered volumes and rotation of spaces reduce wind exposure and optimize thermal comfort in a high-altitude climate. By carefully responding to the alpine microclimate, the design creates spaces that are both environmentally attuned and deeply experiential.

Philosophy and Guest Experience

Poodom Deqin Meri Hotel is not simply a shelter—it is a vehicle for contemplation, connection, and coexistence. The architecture mediates between human presence and wilderness, offering guests a direct sensory engagement with the landscape. Each space frames views, guides movement, and choreographs light and shadow, enabling guests to experience the mountains in ways that are both intimate and awe-inspiring.

Through its careful articulation, restrained materiality, and immersive spatial sequences, the hotel embodies a philosophy where humanity and nature converse in silent, sacred harmony. It transforms the act of lodging into an architectural meditation on place, context, and the sublime beauty of the Meri Snow Mountains.

Photography: Shengliang Su