“Shan Ding You Feng,” a brand under “Mu Shi Photography,” focuses on travel photography. Guided by the ethos of “poetry, romance, and artistry,” it captures enduring love stories, transforming fleeting emotions into cherished memories through photography.
Project Name: Shan Ding You Feng Photography Art Space
Studio Name: Aurora Design
Location: Dali, Yunnan Province, China
Area: 800㎡
Chief Designer: Yang Xuewan (instagram: yxwan)
Lighting Design: Uniimport
Design Time: 2024.3
Completion Time: 2024.8
Construction: Rebuilding Space Lab
Photographer: Na Xin from INSPACE
For this project, the Aurora Design team collaborated in a serene and picturesque setting, where mountains meet water and clouds seem to form stairways, creating a poetic rendezvous inspired by the theme of “love of nature.”
Positioned along the shores of Erhai Lake in Dali, this photography art space, completed in 2024, serves as a multi-functional venue encompassing art exhibitions, cultural gatherings, and creative workshops.
Set in the tranquil northwest of Yunnan, far removed from urban chaos, the site benefits from a subtropical highland monsoon climate. Surrounded by the cedar and oak trees of the Cangshan mountains and the calm waters of Erhai, its name, “Shan Ding You Feng,” reflects the harmonious relationship between mountains, water, and the passage of time. This interplay of natural elements mirrors a rhythm of renewal and enduring memories.
The landscape’s beauty informs the architectural narrative, blending tradition with a deep reverence for nature. Originally conceived as a hotel, the building was reimagined by the designer, with functional spaces restructured and proportioned for its new purpose. The facade is defined by expansive, slim windows that frame a delicate interplay of light and shadow, intertwining the mountains and the sea. The design seamlessly integrates the structure into its natural surroundings, creating a timeless harmony between the built environment and nature.
Gentle breezes glide over the vertical lines of the architecture, while sunlight enhances its understated elegance. The building, predominantly white with a textured surface, evokes distant memories. Constructed from stone bricks, its aesthetic pays homage to nature, subtly narrating the passage of time through its materials.
The design emphasizes openness and a connection with the outdoors. Interiors extend seamlessly into exterior spaces, allowing the natural surroundings to flow into the building. This integration blurs the boundary between inside and outside, fostering a profound intimacy with nature.
The building’s vertical layout is designed to accommodate various functional needs. Natural light and shadow are cleverly manipulated through grids and geometric forms, creating dynamic visual effects and encouraging interaction between interior and exterior environments.
On the first floor, increased ceiling height introduces a spacious, airy feel suitable for exhibitions and gatherings. Minimalist lines and tall, varied door frames accentuate a sense of transparency, while bare plaster walls serve as a canvas for the shifting play of light throughout the day. Floor-to-ceiling windows bring the outdoor landscape into focus, positioning nature as the central element of the space.
Horizontally extended structural elements frame views of the surrounding mountains and greenery, achieving a harmonious spatial proportion. The central staircase, with its winding, organic design, evokes the rugged cliffs of the Cangshan mountains. This feature leads to a mezzanine that offers tranquil views of the lush greenery and serene waters of Erhai Lake.
The second floor is dedicated to photography and creative workspaces. Skylights flood the area with soft natural light, enhancing its calm and inviting atmosphere. Marble blocks and walls finished with a blend of lime and earth create an organic, textured aesthetic that reflects the region’s natural colors and forms. Open windows welcome mountain breezes, infusing the space with the vitality of the landscape.
Materials such as brick, cork, stone, and earth, sourced locally, form the foundation of the design, dissolving the boundary between artificial and natural. This balanced integration of materials reflects a timeless elegance, much like the enduring rhythm of love.
“Shan Ding You Feng” continues its commitment to celebrating love through photography, capturing raw emotions with artistic sensitivity. With this project, Aurora Design encapsulates Dali’s ancient, natural landscapes in a space that exudes simplicity and grace. The minimalist approach highlights the purity of the surroundings, crafting a timeless dialogue between art, architecture, and nature.
Aurora Design has crafted an ethereal environment where love for nature transcends time, creating a romantic and artistic experience that resonates with the beauty of the mountains and the water.
