Ji Yun Yao Resort / TOMO Design

Architects: TOMO Design, TO ACC
Area: 8,370 m²
Year: 2025
Photography: Kevin
Lead Architects: Uno Chan, Xiao Fei, Ben Zhang
Cooperative Design: Psyun, Jason
Decoration Design: Tin
Brand Promotion: Xiao Fei, Angel Yiu, Yuu, TuanTuan
Structural Engineering: line+ studio
Materials: Texture paint, wood veneer, fossil marble, distressed metal, art glass, striped carpet, woven wall covering
Client: Icon Corporation
Location: Conghua, Guangzhou
Country: China

Ji Yun Yao Resort, designed by TOMO Design in collaboration with TO ACC, unfolds within a centuries-old Hakka village at the foot of Mountain Yao in Conghua. Encompassing 8,370 square meters, the resort is conceived as a poetic dialogue between nature, architecture, and human presence. Drawing inspiration from the local village fabric, the complex is arranged as a cluster of spaces that merge into the mountain landscape, with each area narrating a different sensory, spiritual, and spatial story. From reception to dining, bathing, and guest rooms, every element is composed with natural textures, filtered light, and views that frame the surrounding forest and fields. The design employs locally resonant materials such as wood veneer, distressed metal, and marble, paired with artisanal details that echo the heritage of rural life. The project is less a conventional resort than a retreat into nature, offering visitors the chance to rediscover simplicity, silence, and an intimate connection with the environment.

Beyond favoring specific materials, I thrive on tailor-developing materials for unique projects — this zero-to-one creation process not only solves distinctive design challenges but delivers unparalleled satisfaction through breakthrough innovation.
Interview with Uno Chan of TOMO DESIGN

The Ji Yun Yao Resort emerges as a contemporary sanctuary set against the backdrop of Conghua’s verdant Mountain Yao, where architecture dissolves into the natural order of the landscape. TOMO Design envisioned the resort as both a cultural and spiritual retreat, integrating design elements that reference the local Hakka heritage while offering a contemporary expression of seclusion and peace. Its village-like arrangement of pavilions and courtyards evokes a rhythm of discovery, guiding guests through forests, streams, and open fields.

The design intent was not merely to build a place of leisure but to cultivate a way of life in harmony with its environment. Spaces such as the reception bar and restaurant are characterized by shifting light, rustic textures, and natural fragrances, creating an atmosphere where architecture becomes a frame for lived experiences. The paddy pool, flower forest, and woodland tea pavilion extend this dialogue, each space immersing visitors in a sensory relationship with water, greenery, and mountain air.

Guestrooms continue the narrative of immersion, with panoramic windows and natural materials fostering a contemplative interiority. Elements such as woven coverings, textured finishes, and handcrafted details balance simplicity with refinement, reinforcing the ethos of understated luxury. Here, architecture functions as a mediator between people and nature, offering moments of solitude as well as communal gathering.

The resort reflects a layered approach to narrative design, unfolding across seasons and moods. Light and shadow become compositional elements, while every path and window is calibrated to capture the subtleties of the valley and forest. In this interplay of built form and natural setting, Ji Yun Yao Resort proposes not an escape from life but a deeper return to it where silence, mountain air, and the rhythm of nature inspire a renewed sense of belonging.