Located in the south-central province of Yunnan, China, Lijiang is recognized by the United Nations as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. OLBN was contacted to transform an undeveloped 70 acre tract of Lijang into an artisan village which focuses on celebrating the region’s rich cultural heritage and provides a permanent home to an annual week-long music festival.
OLBN’s concept centers on a large public plaza which contains a concert shell and functions as event space and a hub for retail, exhibit space and hotels. The remainder of the site is populated with villas, interpreted with a contemporary aesthetic, combining a bold mesh of local building materials and architectural concepts. Glass and wooden screens blur the distinction of indoor/outdoor space, allowing residents to revel in the clear air and rich history of Lijiang and the magnificent natural backdrop of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
