The focus of the Meishan Cultural and Ecological Park is to sustain the Meishan culture and the natural landscape in which the Meishan people live and have lived, educate visitors, and protect Meishan history. Inside the park are traditional Meishan activities such as a martial arts space, museums, hotels, a reception area, and the peacefulness that comes from enjoying the beautiful landscape. The emphasis of my design proposal is in accordance with the way the Meishan people erect buildings. They build from their environment using local materials, daylighting/shade devices, and natural ventilation. The Reception building is in the courtyard style and will accommodate an information/hotel check-in area, gift shop, eatery, tearoom, bar, and conference rooms. Since the Meishan people are so closely related to nature in how they live and build, the design for the Reception building will include organic shapes from indigenous plants and use of local materials creating a harmonious connection with the rest of the park. The second building is where visitors will lodge; the gable style building will feature the same sustainable features as the courtyard style building but be divided into individual rooms with daylighting as a design emphasis.
Three important features of the design are based on Chinese ideals of architecture: 1.) Beauty in nature, appearance, color, light and shadow; 2.) Organic in random, for instance the gable house is situated in between two mountains; 3.) Harmonious but remaining differences, keeping local materials the same, but changing the technique. Use of the natural landscape as inspiration, the interiors will include organic lines, materials, and features that mimic the exterior landscape. Materials, such as wood, stone, brick and tile will be used throughout. The exterior color palette will come from Chinese calligraphy: white, gray, and black. “Chinese ink and wash foiled in green hills and blue waters.” Since the vista is so beautiful and important, many windows will accommodate the views.