A meandering wooden path leads towards a centuries-old oak tree situated at the centre of this alpine garden in China's Yulong County, which landscape design studio Z'scape created to celebrate the region's native plants and indigenous culture.
The Hylla Alpine Garden project forms part of the Lijiang Hylla Vintage Hotel complex in the foothills of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Lijiang, Yunnan province.
Z'scape added winding paths throughout the alpine garden in Lijiang
The garden was designed by Beijing-based studio Z'scape and is shortlisted in the landscape category of Dezeen Awards 2021.
The hotel project is inserted carefully into the existing landscape, and features buildings constructed using reclaimed and local materials to ensure it links the past with the present. Local stonemasons and craftspeople were employed to create the garden's architectural features
The landscaping adopts a similar approach, employing local stonemasons and carpenters to create a contemporary design that feels connected to the site's history.
Native plants, local stones, textures and water features that recall the wells found in nearby villages all contribute to an environment that invites visitors to explore the local culture.
"The design effort draws upon the site," explained the architects, "establishing a distinct closeness with indigenous Naxi culture and alpine nature in creating a place of comfort, solitude and peace."
A water feature was designed to reference ...