Bamboo Hostels China / Studio Anna Heringer

Architects: Studio Anna Heringer
Area: 1153 m²
Year: 2016
Photographs: Jenny JI, Julien Lanoo
Lead Architect: Anna Heringer
Main Contractor: Shanghai Kangye Building Decoration Engineering Co. Ltd.
Team Studio Anna Heringer: Stefano Mori, Karolina Switzer, Wayne Switzer, Yu Xi
Client/Sponsor: Municipality of Longquan, China
Consultant in Earthen Structures and Overall Concept: Martin Rauch
Consultant in Bamboo Structures: Emmanuel Heringer
Consultant in Heating System: Harald Mueller, Franz Petermann
Consultant in Energy System: Klaus Daniels
City: Lishui
Country: China

Bamboo Hostels by Studio Anna Heringer in Baoxi, China, showcase sustainable design using bamboo and rammed earth. Built for the Longquan International Biennale (2011–2014), the project includes two hostels and a guesthouse with a stone and rammed-earth core for facilities, surrounded by bamboo-woven sleeping units inspired by Chinese lampshades. The design celebrates natural materials, promoting ecological and economic sustainability while supporting local craftsmanship and traditions like basket weaving and ceramic making. Energy-efficient solutions rely on fire, solar energy, and plants, with thermal control limited to cores and sleeping units. The project serves as a model for creating sustainable, natural-material-based architecture.

Bamboo hostels china / studio anna heringer

Between 2011 and 2014, China consumed more cement than the United States did throughout the entire last century. The majority of people now living in concrete housing blocks had previously lived in homes made of natural materials. This shift is a global trend, highlighting the urgent need for alternatives to reduce CO2 emissions.

The three hostels demonstrate that traditional, natural materials can be incorporated into contemporary design. Unlike many traditional houses that conceal mud behind artificial facades, this project highlights and celebrates the aesthetic appeal of natural materials. By utilizing non-standardized, locally sourced materials, the design promotes greater diversity in both urban and rural areas, supports fair economics through job creation, and contributes to the preservation of the planet’s ecosystem.

This project was part of the Longquan International Biennale, an initiative focused on building with bamboo, where 12 architects were invited to create permanent structures.

The studio was commissioned to design two hostels and one guesthouse. The hostels are structured around a core made of stone and rammed earth, which houses all facility units and staircases. Attached to this core are the sleeping units, designed to resemble glowing Chinese lampshades at night. These are enclosed by an expressive structure crafted from woven bamboo.

Sustainability is often perceived as being about scarcity, but the essence of nature lies in its abundance. Materials such as bamboo and mud, which are plentiful, offer both economic and ecological benefits while being healthy for people and the planet. These buildings demonstrate that sustainability is not about limitation but about enhancing quality of life and celebrating the vast resources that nature provides.

The techniques used, such as bamboo weaving and rammed earth, are labor-intensive and challenge the skills of local craftsmen while ensuring that the majority of the profits remain within the community.

The project seeks to reconnect with the authenticity of cultural goods shaped by the inherent characteristics of materials, such as the bending strength of bamboo, while honoring China’s rich tradition of craftsmanship, including basket weaving. The design is also inspired by one of Baoxi’s cultural identities: ceramic vessels, which influenced the shapes of the structures.

The energy system relies on direct and “archaic” sources such as fire, sunlight, wind, shade, and plants, alongside the principle of minimizing conditioned spaces. Instead of investing significant money and resources to control the climate of the entire hostel volumes, only the core, which houses the utility rooms, and the cocoon-like sleeping units are thermally controlled. These spaces are protected from rain and equipped with low-tech heating and cooling options. Fire serves as a primary heating source through an efficient oven that also heats water for showers, supported by solar collectors, while simultaneously fostering a communal atmosphere in the common areas.

Given the planet’s limited resources, it is impossible to provide appropriate habitats for 7 billion people using industrialized materials alone. The use of natural materials is essential to achieve sustainable and equitable development. This project serves as a model for building with simplicity and purpose, embracing the “charming power” found in the authenticity of natural materials.