Feng Shui-inspired luxury clubhouse breaks ground in China’s southern mountains

Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects has broken ground on the Gaoyao Clubhouse, a sculptural Feng Shui-inspired project in the mountains of Guangdong.

Located in Gaoyao district, 100 kilometers west of Guangzhou, the project will comprise a clubhouse and gallery that will serve the area’s new development of luxury villas. The sculptural design is sited at the center of the lake to optimize panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, sky, and water.

Conceived as the heart of the new luxury development, the Gaoyao Clubhouse consists of three distinct but interconnected spaces: a grand art lobby, a sales suite, and a lounge. Each structure is strategically angled—at 120, 240, and 345 degrees—in accordance with Feng Shui principles and to optimize views. The building’s expansive concave roof turns up at the eaves with a dramatic flair inspired by strokes of a calligraphy brush. The facade will be clad in vertical panels of gray granite that will reflect the sun and movement of water.

Natural light pours into the interior through full-height panoramic windows, which also frame views of the lake and lush green mountains. The column-free interior and its limited and light-colored materials palette reinforces the building’s airy and spacious feel. Living green walls punctuate the interior. The interior’s light oak flooring is extended to the outside patios to further blur the lines between the indoors and outdoors. The project is slated for completion in early 2017.