The Arcadia Place in Lugu Lake, a member of Design Hotels, has opened its doors in China’s Hengduan Mountains in Yanyuan County, Liangshan Prefecture.
Located 2,690 meters above sea level, the hotel is infused with the cultural and architectural heritage of the Mosuo people – the last well-preserved, matrilineal culture in the world – who still practice 2,000-year-old traditions surrounded by the Lake Lugu.
Housed within three former villas, The Arcadia Place neighbours two Mosuo villages and overlooks Lugu Lake. The property was designed by Imago Architecture Design Consultancy, led by chief architect Yang Lu, who reimagined the spaces to blend with nature and reflect the unique culture and patterns of the Mosuo people.
From the outside, the hotel’s main building curves naturally within the landscape. Lu also reimagined elements of traditional Mosuo architecture, including the raw texture of a rammed earth façade, reinforced with local stone. Wooden support structures were rebuilt using modern mortise-and-tenon joinery, and lattice designs – often found in Mosuo dwellings – have been transformed into spatial accents.
The surrounding landscapes and waters are also reflected in every detail in a bid to bring the outside in. A water lily–shaped chandelier, alluding to the area’s famed Ottelia acuminata, or fringed water lily, hangs in the lobby.
Nearby, a tinted glass wall references colours of the region, including sunset crimsons and reddish-browns that recreate twilight by the lake, crisp blues to echo the depths of the lake’s rainy season, golden yellows that mimic grasslands bathed in autumn sunlight, and pink to evoke the Gesang flowers of the Mosuo people. At the centre of it all, a cosy hearth – the signature element of a Mosuo grandmother’s house – acts as an inviting gathering space.
With almost entirely custom furniture and lighting fixtures designed by Lu, these deeply rooted references extend into the 46 guestrooms and 14 suites, designed to embody the romance of the Mosuo maiden’s floral chambers and the warmth of a Mosuo grandmother’s house. Red rammed earth and lattice motifs complement sleek modern touches like transparent glass walls, suspended metal installations and colourful pendant lights. Custom carpets reference the fringed water lily, weaving the aquatic life of Lugu Lake into indoor spaces.
Beds with pillows made from locally handwoven cloths face floor-to-ceiling windows, and in many rooms, glass doors give way to balconies with panoramic views of the landscape. Most guest accommodations are found in the five-story main building, but three luxury treehouses offer seclusion and quietude amidst the natural world.
In addition to the Xing Yu Lobby Lounge, guests can indulge in the Yun Ying Dining Room restaurant, found on the hotel’s top floor. Here, an LED screen projects soft reds alongside other seasonal tonalities that reflect the lake and changing landscape, while three of the restaurant’s sides open towards the lake.
Nearby, an infinity pool stretches out towards the mountains, and guests can relax in an outdoor lounge area by a second traditional Mosuo hearth. In the spa’s four treatment rooms and yoga studio, red hues complement deep brown wood tones, encouraging guests to unwind and sink into the soothing atmosphere.
Uniting all areas of The Arcadia Place – including its two F&B offerings, the rooftop lounge and spa – are tones of red, symbolising and representing maternal imagery and the local matrilineal culture.
