TIMBER CONSTRUCTION IN CHINESE RESORTS: A SUSTAINABLE EXPRESSION OF EREMITICAL LUXURY

Abstract

This paper seeks to propose timber construction as a sustainable solution in designing luxury resorts in China. With a increasing number of international and domestic travelers, China accounts for a large percentage of global luxury tourism’s near term development. However, timber construction does not have a large share in the booming development of luxury tourism property in China. By redefining the new exclusiveness of luxury as the Eremitical Luxury, the luxury of the “knowledge class”, new design approach needs to be adopted to fulfill the taste and aesthetics of scholars. Instead of extravaganza and excessiveness, Eremitical luxury embraces nature and simple lifestyle which demonstrates an appreciation of sustainability. Timber, being a sustainable and renewable building material, could be a viable answer to previously polar opposite arguments of sustainability and luxury. 3 different Chinese resorts which adopt timber construction are analyzed on both sustainability and luxury. The sustainability is discussed in masterplan, materials, structure and envelope. Luxury is discussed with regards to material properties of various timber and the overall construction system.