The Hua Xu Boutique Hotel by Z+H Renhai Design is situated in Suzhou, China. Completed by designer Zhang Haihua, this 2024 project involved transforming three existing residential buildings into a courtyard hotel. The design draws inspiration from the region’s Jiangnan-style houses, incorporating contemporary elements that harmonize with the area’s historical context.

Designer Zhang Haihua has completed a boutique hotel project in the ancient city district of Suzhou, transforming three existing residential buildings into a courtyard building whose layout is inspired by the region?s traditional Jiangnan-style houses.
This commission presented an exciting opportunity for Zhang, who was born and raised in Suzhou himself, as it offered the chance to develop a contemporary aesthetic for a hotel located within the ancient city and its strong sense of place, and to contemplate the special meaning of this type of project in a unique spatial, social, and historical context.
Chapter I Traversing by Water
The Ming Dynasty painter Shen Zhou wrote that southern China, known at the time as the state of Wu, was defined by its relationship to the water which surrounds it. From the Song Dynasty to today, the urban layout of Suzhou – long famed for its numerous canals – has fundamentally evolved. During the early 20th century, there were still many lakes in the Yangcheng and Wujiang districts of Suzhou, creating a distinctive landform within the city.
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