bamboo-clad guest room stretches like a cat toward water and mountains in chinese forest

"To keep costs low and minimize waste, they reused discarded tiles from a local factory. Initially, a batch of dark, carbonized bamboo suggested a monochrome 'black cat' aesthetic. But when supplies ran out, the team mixed in tiles of varying shades, resulting in a mottled, patchwork exterior. What could have been a compromise became a defining feature. The 'spotted cat' facade introduces visual texture and unpredictability, qualities that align with the playful intent of the project."

"Shaped like a creature stretching toward distant water and mountains, the project transforms a compact accommodation into an experiential micro-architecture, complete with a slide integrated into its 'tail' and a raised body that both frames views and preserves privacy. Built as part of a broader effort to upgrade aging tents at the site, the small structure proposes a more durable and engaging way of inhabiting the outdoors. JumpingHouseLab approaches Cat House as something that shifts, bends, and adjusts in relation to its surroundings."

"The client's brief stemmed from a clear problem, as traditional tents offer privacy but often block outward views. JumpingHouseLab responds by lifting the structure slightly off the ground and orienting it toward the most scenic direction, eliminating the need for perimeter walls. In doing so, the Chinese architects began to see the form take on a life of its own, less a static building and more an organism adapting to its environment."

Cat House is a 30-square-meter standalone guest room tucked into a forested campground in Anji, Zhejiang. The form stretches toward nearby water and mountains with a slide integrated into its tail and a raised platform that frames views while preserving privacy. The structure was built to replace aging tents, offering a more durable and engaging outdoor accommodation. Bamboo tiles from a local factory were reused, producing a mottled patchwork facade when dark carbonized stock ran out. The building is lifted and oriented toward the best views, eliminating perimeter walls and adopting a creature-like posture that adapts to landscape and privacy needs.

Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine