Lugu Lake Lanyue Hotel

Moonlit Minimalism and Nature-Led Lighting.

A quietly engineered lighting scheme that privileges natural ambience and minimal artificial light, balancing guest comfort, orientation, and energy sensitivity to suit a remote lakeside retreat.

Set on the shores of Lugu Lake, this project sets out to protect the night, not overpower it. The brief prioritised preserving the rural dark-sky character while enabling calm, intuitive wayfinding and comfort. A quality-over-brightness philosophy steers every decision, allowing the lake, mountains and star field to contribute as ambient light sources and ensuring the building sits modestly within its landscape.

Execution is intentionally restrained. Roofline lighting is eliminated to avoid skyline glare; exterior illumination is kept low and targeted, with subtle node lights guiding arrivals. Public areas employ diffused, moonlike tones and ember-soft accents, while guestrooms shift to warm, low-brightness layers that support privacy and rest. Extensive glazing invites the night to collaborate with carefully placed artificial sources, achieving legibility without visual noise and minimising energy demand.

Judges praised the elegance and composure of the scheme, noting its immersive, sensitive response to context and its visually rewarding restraint. They highlighted its ability to maintain very low light levels without sacrificing function. Overall, the jury regarded it as a highly intentional and context-aware approach that elevates sense of place while curbing light pollution.

The judges said: “This project demonstrates a beautifully restrained and thoughtful approach to lighting, achieving the lowest possible light levels without compromising functionality.”