Gray Bricks And Wood, Work Together To Create A Contemporary Facade For This Small Hotel In Beijing

Photography by Xia Zhi

Architecture and design firm Penda, have transformed a former traditional guesthouse that stretched over 2 floors, with small rooms and limited daylight, into the XinXian Inn Hotel, a small, modern low-budget hotel located in a Hutong area in the center of Beijing, China.

The facade of the hotel is a visible icon on the street and it mirrors the surrounding Hutong area with its gray bricks, natural wood and glass.

Photography by Xia Zhi

Upon entering the hotel, the bricks and wood flow through to the interior and there’s a small green wall to add a touch of natural color.

Photography by Xia Zhi

When talking about the design of the main floor, the designers explain “Walking into the hotel, the hallway seems like an alley wending through a neighborhood of little houses. We placed a lot of plants along the way, so the atmosphere between inside and outside fades and the hotel creates a little Hutong by itself.”

Photography by Xia Zhi

Inside this ‘little house’ is an area with a table and stools that looks out onto street and the entrance of the hotel.

Photography by Xia Zhi

Stairs surrounded by wood lead to the upper floor of the hotel, while a skylight and hidden lighting make sure the stairs are bright and well lit.

Photography by Xia Zhi

At the top of the stairs is a public seating area that’s set up with small round tables and built-in seats.

Photography by Xia Zhi

There’s also a second seating area housed in a ‘little house’ with long wood tiered seating and cushions.

Photography by Xia Zhi

Inside the hotel rooms, bright white walls have been combined with wood furnishings to create a simple and contemporary appearance.

Photography by Xia Zhi | Project Team: Penda – Chris Precht, Dayong Sun, Jing Wang, Yu Zizhi Li Pengchong, Wen Xu, Mingxue Sun