Red Brick

Hotel for Gong Xu

Red Brick is a hotel plan at Qinglong Mountain. Old bricks hang like a soft red veil. Sun moves through small holes. Shadows dance on the floor. Time feels slow here. Guests walk past history. The wall breathes. Past and now meet in silence. This is not just a hotel. It is a quiet spot for memory. Light makes heavy bricks feel free. Each step tells a tale. The mountain watches. By breaking lines between old roots and new work, the plan sets a model for green fix. It lets guests feel the flow of time. Natural light creates dynamic art without electricity, making each visit unique.

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Red Brick by GONG XU

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Unique Properties

Situated at Qinglong Mountain, Red Brick executes a radical adaptive reuse of an ancient wharf. Its defining property is the deconstructive treatment of millenary red bricks. Rather than traditional preservation, the masonry is re-engineered into a dynamic, light-permeable membrane. Through precise suspension and perforation, the facade acts as a filter, sculpting daylight into rhythmic interior patterns. This approach dissolves the visual weight of history, creating a dialogue between heavy heritage and contemporary ethereality. Guests experience a tactile narrative where time is materialized through shifting shadows and textured surfaces. The project sets a new benchmark for sustainable hospitality, proving that historical fragments can be revitalized as active architectural elements.

Tags

Red Brick, Adaptive Reuse, Hotel Design, Heritage, Light Wall, Sustainable, Interior, Renovation, Culture, Facade

Production Technology

Ancient red bricks were sourced locally and cleaned. A custom steel system holds bricks without visible mortar. Precision drilling made holes for light. Bricks are stacked without bearing load. They are fixed to the structure with hidden steel rods. This ensures safety and gives a floating look. Techniques include dry stacking and tension assembly. No wet mortar was used on the facade. This method protects the old bricks from damage.This dry method cuts water use and lets future workers take parts apart easily. It turns old waste into a safe, modern skin that breathes with the building.

Design Challenge

The main challenge was fixing fragile old bricks without breaking them. Modern rules required strong safety proofs. Old bricks vary in strength and crack easily. Drilling deep holes was risky. Mortar would block light. We solved this by making a special clamp system. It holds bricks gently and spreads weight evenly. We did not drill deep. Also, brick colors varied wildly. We solved this by mapping colors and arranging them in a gradient. This turned a flaw into a feature. We met all safety laws and kept the design light.

Project Duration

The project started in January 2023 in Qinglong Mountain and finished in February 2025 in Wuhan. The design was completed for the 2025 hospitality season.

Operation Flow

The space guides guests from a busy street into a quiet sanctuary. Interaction happens naturally: as users step forward, the pattern of light and shadow on the ground changes, acting as a silent guide. The walls breathe; they are not solid barriers but soft filters that let light in while keeping heat and noise out. Key moments include entering the lobby where the ceiling seems to float and touching the warm, aged bricks. This setup deals a better result by calming the mind instantly without needing technology, proving that old materials can create a superior, peaceful modern experience.

Research

Type: Experimental Architecture. Objectives: To optimize light in old bricks safely. Methodology: Simulation and physical testing. Tools: Rhino 3D, Grasshopper, Load Rigs. Participants: 3 architects, 2 engineers, local masons. Results: Perforated bricks improved light by 40 percent. Load capacity reached 120 kg per sqm. Insights: Old bricks can filter light dynamically. Impacts: This cuts carbon footprint by 40 percent. It proves heritage materials fit modern needs. It offers a green model for preserving history.

Inspiration

The design stems from a philosophical re-examination of the red brick. It transforms the brick from a structural barrier into a permeable vessel of light and memory. Inspired by historical masonry, the project dissolves boundaries between past and present. The motive was to revitalize the tactile warmth of aged bricks using contemporary techniques. Daylight filters through the material itself, not just the surface. This creates a dialogue where history breathes within a modern context.

Image Credits

Image #1: Photographer Gong Xu, Red Brick Gu Bai, 2025. Image #2: Photographer Gong Xu, Red Brick Gu Bai, 2025. Image #3: Photographer Gong Xu, Red Brick Gu Bai, 2025. Image #4: Photographer Gong Xu, Red Brick Gu Bai, 2025. Image #5: Photographer Gong Xu, Red Brick Gu Bai, 2025.

Project Overview

Red Brick Hotel has been a Silver winner in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design award category in the year 2025 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.

Silver Recognition

GONG XU was recognized with the coveted Silver A' Design Award in 2026, a testament to excellence of their work Red Brick Hotel.

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