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Miya Lost Villa, a Rural Chinese Barn Resort, Draws Crowds Away from Shanghai

01.30.19 | By
Miya Lost Villa, a Rural Chinese Barn Resort, Draws Crowds Away from Shanghai

Five hours away from Shanghai, between the Tiantai Mountain and Siming Mountain in China, six old buildings from a former granary have been turned into a chic modern barn resort. Chinese architecture office Ares Partners, led by architect Helen Wang, designed the Miya Lost Villa Hotel with contemporary white structures and stone facades, to bring both old and new together in harmony in the countryside.

The studio removed the layers of white paint to reveal the original masonry of the walls. False ceilings were removed to show off the building’s timber construction. Openings, from walkways to windows, were expanded so more daylight reaches the interiors.

Each of the 21 spacious guest rooms comes with a private sun deck to enjoy the mountain views. The studio said they took a sensitive approach to the refurbishment “to engage a dialogue between the old and new buildings as well as a dialogue between architecture, mountain and people.”

What: Miya Lost Villa Huchen Barn Resort
Where: No.215 Provincial Road (Area B, Xizhang Damaitang, Hudong Village, Huchen Township) Ninghai China
How much? Room prices start at USD $88
Highlights: Minimalist hotel with sunrooms, private deck and pool present views of two mountain valleys in China.
Design draw: Modern refurbishment of historic stone building in China combines original facade with sleek, white shapes to take on a contemporary form.
Book it: Visit Miya Lost Villa Huchen Barn Resort.

Photos by Su Shengliang and Ares Partners.

Keshia grew up in Singapore and moved to the U.S. to attend Dartmouth College. When she was living abroad after graduation, a chance enrollment at the Architectural Association Visiting School led to her becoming enamored with door schedules and architectural écriture. She's particularly interested in design for aging, rural architecture, and Asian design heritage.