Alila Dong'ao Island Zhuhai

ZNA Architects

Client: Gree Group

Perched on Changjiao Bay of Dong'ao Island—a jewel among the Wanshan Archipelago embraced by a 15-kilometer golden coastline—Alila Zhuhai harmonizes with dramatic cliffs and tidal rhythms. As China’s first cliff-integrated island retreat, it embodies a dialogue between rugged stone and the sea’s fluid grace.

Breaking from conventional linearity, the design employs angular dual lines to evoke the dynamic interplay of split rock formations. The main structure draws inspiration from coastal forces: a suspended, wave-like crown interacts with jagged cliffs, creating a visual symphony of "waves piercing clouds." Through cantilevered engineering, the building appears to emerge organically from the cliffside, framing 270-degree panoramas of the endless sea. The architecture dissolves into nature via hidden boundaries and minimal intervention. Preserved native woodlands intertwine with curated plantings, crafting an ecological corridor that transitions from rainforest to canyon to open ocean. This layered landscape becomes a living theater, balancing privacy with an immersive connection to the elements. Reinterpreting Lingnan heritage, the roofline echoes the pitched forms of Guangfu vernacular architecture, transformed into a contemporary cultural cipher. Here, tradition is reimagined—a modern homage to regional identity, where cliff-top spaces become vessels for both cultural renewal and communion with nature. Beyond physical form, the design captures reverence for nature, memory of land, and emotional resonance. When dawn mist envelops the floating structures, the hotel transcends into a timeless nexus—where sky, earth, and sea converge in silent poetry.