Press Release
Silver A' Design Award in Hospitality, Recreation, Travel and Tourism Design Goes to Youhe Community Hospitality Design by Zhifeng Zhao
The international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition recognizes Zhifeng Zhao for hospitality, recreation, travel and tourism design
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 18, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Youhe Community Hospitality Design by Zhifeng Zhao, designed for ZHANG Qiang, has been granted the Silver A' Design Award in the Hospitality, Recreation, Travel and Tourism Design category. The award was conferred within the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was reached through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
What the Silver A' Design Award Means
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.
About Youhe Community Hospitality Design
The Project on Lotus Island skillfully merges the pastoral charm with the idea of rural cooperative, offering an immersive agricultural tourism experience. Its design emphasizes sustainability and simplicity, blending nature with functional spaces. The use of hand-drawn visuals and natural materials creates a harmonious atmosphere, while the flexible layout, including terraces, reading areas, and tiered seating, fosters relaxation and social interaction. By balancing aesthetic appeal with practical functionality, the project provides visitors with an unique connection to nature and Community.
About Zhifeng Zhao
Zhao Zhifeng is the principal designer of CHY Design, where he focuses on integrating spatial design with local cultural narratives. His design approach emphasizes a harmonious relationship with nature, the authenticity of materials, and the richness of user experience. He is known for using a clear and compelling design language to respond to complex and diverse local contexts. Drawing inspiration from the history and natural qualities of each site, Zhao distills core imagery that resonates with the spirit of place. Through his refined design sensibility, he explores themes of slow living and coexistence, creating spaces that embody a deep connection to their local surroundings.
Award Record
Zhifeng Zhao is a winner of 1 A' Design Award, including this recognition.
About the A' Hospitality, Recreation, Travel and Tourism Design Award
The A' Hospitality Design Award is an international hospitality design competition recognizing good hospitality designs by best hospitality designers worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to hospitality designers, architects, hospitality brands and hotel chains from all countries. Typical entries include hotels, restaurants, resorts, cafes, bars and cruise ships. The awarded hospitality designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/hospitality
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/166824
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/166824
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!166824
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/362914
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://t.doruo.cn/1zAtZHUbu
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
###
Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Youhe Community Hospitality Design
- Function
- Hospitality Design
- Category
- Hospitality, Recreation, Travel and Tourism Design
- Discipline
- Service Design
- Industry
- Food & Hospitality and Sports
- Colors
- Saddle Brown, Dark Gray, Sienna, Rosy Brown and Silver
- Images
- 5
- Client
- ZHANG Qiang
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Zhifeng Zhao
- Country
- China
- Recognition
- Silver A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #166824
Credits
- Image Credits
- DENG Chun
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- This vibrant agro-tourism space on Lotus Island, Suzhou, blends pastoral beauty with the rural cooperative concept. The design uses hand-drawn illustrations and simple lines, with orange and white contrasts for a fresh look. The architecture combines repurposed materials and natural scenery, while wood and rattan interiors create a simple, nature-connected atmosphere. The space offers dining with views, a reading nook, and multi-functional areas for gatherings and study.
- Inspiration
- The project is inspired by the pastoral beauty of Lotus Island in Suzhou, with its serene lakes and lush landscapes. It also draws from the collective spirit of rural cooperatives, emphasizing shared efforts and sustainable development. This blend of nature and collaboration creates a vibrant, interactive agro-tourism space.
- Research
- The early-stage research focused on co-creation, involving in-depth collaboration with stakeholders. This included discussions with the owner to meet practical needs and with the head of Lotus Island to integrate local characteristics. University students, especially younger groups, were engaged for fresh perspectives and innovative ideas. This multi-layered collaboration enriched the design approach, providing both a solid theoretical foundation and practical basis for the final outcome.
- Challenge
- A key challenge of the design was the owner's limited budget, requiring careful cost control and strategic material selection. To address this, the design reused old materials, reducing costs while adding unique character and sustainability. Focused design elements were prioritized to maintain impact without exceeding the budget. Close collaboration with the construction team ensured a balance between design vision and practical constraints, maintaining high craftsmanship while adhering to financial limitations for a successful outcome.
- Realization and Technology
- The overall cost control of the project is relatively low, and the design and construction are closely integrated during the process. The material control often uses old wood for renovation and reuse, which is also part of sustainable design.
- Operation and Interaction
- Youhe Community is a rural revitalization project developed in collaboration with the local town government, becoming a model for rural redevelopment in Suzhou. Since its opening, the project has provided a new leisure destination for both local residents of Lotus Island and visitors. During the crab season, the area experiences a significant influx of people, highlighting its commercial value and popularity.
- Project Duration and Location
- Project Duration:October 2023- December 2023 Location: Lotus Island, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Specifications
- The project occupies a single floor with a thoughtful layout. The main space faces the bar counter, flanked by IP product exhibition areas, creating a central, functional design. To the right, an open dining and viewing area features terraces by the window and built-in bookshelves, offering a cozy reading spot. Behind a soundproof curtain on the left, a tiered seating area provides a flexible space for events like study tours or social gatherings.
- Keywords
- Tourism Complex, Landscape Design, Argo-tourism Space, Travel Design, Tourism Design
