the 'hi sea floating hotel' offers remote residences off the coast of china

conceived as a ‘floating island’, this hotel is located 500 meters (1,640 feet) off the coast of china’s southern fujian province. titled the ‘hi sea floating hotel’, the buoyant project offers guests unrivaled views of the water as well as spectacular sunrises and sunsets. the hotel’s remote location meant that the architects behind the project, balance design, a firm led by dong xinmeng, had to consider environmental factors such as ocean currents and monsoons.

all images by xia zhi

balance design studied fish rafts in order to ensure buoyancy, while it was also important that the structure could withstand hurricanes. the roof is constructed from the same corrosion-resistant materials found in airport terminals and yachts, with the outdoor deck made from weather-resistant flooring. this material has a texture comparable to solid wood and is both environmentally friendly and protects against fire. electrical power is provided via submerged cables.

the indoor accommodation, which measures a total of 500 square meters (5,382 sqf), consists of a shared living space, a kitchen, and three guest rooms. the interiors have been kept as simple as possible, with wooden tones used throughout and large openings providing panoramic views of the water. couches and dining areas offer plenty of places to dine individually or with company. guests are able to catch fish off the deck, or relax in a pool that is integrated into the outdoor deck. see other floating architectural projects on designboom here, including this angular timber house that forms part of a floating village in amsterdam.

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project info:

name: hi sea floating hotel
location: dongshan island, zhangzhou city, fujian province, china
design company: balance design
designer: dong xinmeng
area: 591 sqm / 6,361 sqf
completed: 2020
photographer: xia zhi