SAVHE HOTEL By TOMO Design

Architects: TOMO DESIGN
Area: 1500 SQM
Year: 2024
Photographs: Kevin
Studio: TOMO Design,TO ACC
Chief designers: Uno Chen, XiaoFei
Cooperative design: Jamie, Kang.K, Weijie, Freddy, Yangmei, Yicheng, Jennifer, Jason
Decoration design: Tin, Daya X
Brand promotion: Xiao Fei, Angel Yiu, Yuu, Feiyu, Sunshine PR
Main materials: texture paint, wood veneer, fossil marble, distressed metal, art glass, striped carpet,woven wall covering
Client: ATOUR GROUP
Country: China

SAVHE HOTEL by TOMO Design reimagines the concept of urban hospitality through an aesthetic rooted in Eastern philosophy and nature-inspired design. Taking its name from the Lisu dialect of Yunnan, meaning “breathing,” the hotel embodies a spatial narrative of tranquility and introspection within the bustle of the city. Across its 1,500-square-meter interior, the design draws inspiration from traditional Chinese gardens, interweaving elements of water, light, shadow, and greenery with contemporary artistic expression. Public spaces such as the lobby, lounge, and tea bar embrace a fluid dialogue between interior and exterior, while art installations like “Listen to the Rain in the Lake” introduce sensorial depth through sound and movement. Private areas extend this calm with meditative tones and intimate layouts, where each detail reinforces the brand’s ethos of harmony. By blending cultural resonance with refined modernity, TOMO Design has crafted an environment that not only hosts travelers but also encourages reflection, offering an urban sanctuary where guests can pause and breathe.

From initial curiosity to deep exploration, I discovered my ability to visualize ideas with increasing clarity and boundlessness — this process delivers focused tranquility and profound fulfillment.
Interview with Uno Chan of TOMO DESIGN

Rather than approaching the project as a conventional hotel, TOMO Design envisioned SAVHE as an urban retreat that brings the philosophy of “breathing” into architectural form. The design’s central premise lies in translating the relationship between man and nature into a refined spatial journey, where Eastern cultural motifs are reframed through minimalist gestures and contemporary craft.

At the entrance, a screen wall derived from traditional architecture is reinterpreted with a monochromatic palette, setting a tone of understated elegance. This interplay of heritage and modernity continues throughout the foyer, where columns with raw textures meet carefully framed greenery, offering subtle reminders of nature’s presence. The lobby unfolds like a modern ink wash painting, its layered skylight and beams casting shifting shadows that imbue the space with meditative calm.

The reception area departs from conventional formats, replacing upright counters with a seated desk that encourages unhurried interactions. Adjacent, the fragrance display incorporates moss, gravel, and digital imagery to evoke the ephemeral qualities of water and scent. The lounge further develops this dialogue with classical garden principles, balancing openness with framed views that shift as one moves through the space.

Art installations and crafted details reinforce the hotel’s narrative of natural resonance. “Listen to the Rain in the Lake,” a suspended composition of teacup forms, introduces sound and light as dynamic architectural elements, recalling the rhythm of rainfall. The book bar and tea bar create relaxed environments where wood, stone, and subdued lighting converge to foster contemplation. In the restaurant, expansive windows bring the landscape into the dining experience, while smaller private rooms provide intimacy for conversation and gatherings.

Beyond the public zones, the design maintains its ethos of serenity. The meditation room stands out as a cavernous retreat, with arched ceilings and textured walls that recall a natural grotto, offering a setting for quiet reflection. In contrast, the gym and laundry adopt lighter finishes to encourage energy and movement. Guest rooms are conceived as personal sanctuaries: the STUDIO type emphasizes fluidity and compact elegance, while the PRO layout privileges spaciousness and privacy, both extending the brand’s vision of comfort enriched by cultural depth.

SAVHE HOTEL ultimately transcends its role as accommodation. It is a crafted habitat where spatial clarity, natural references, and cultural symbolism merge into a cohesive whole. TOMO Design has created not just a hotel, but a poetic refuge that resonates with its name, offering guests a place to breathe, reflect, and reconnect within the rhythms of the city.