The hotel is located at Kenting in the southernmost part of Taiwan. The property was previously used as a retreat by the late Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek in the late 60's, thus no major structural or exterior openings were allowed to be changed. With the rich history of the property, the client hoped to achieve two purposes: heritage and sustainability. To this end, the important design efforts were:

Redefine modern Taiwanese aesthetic and present the unique culture of Taiwan.
First, the design attempts to rediscover the roots of Taiwan culture through utilizing material that is native to Taiwan.
Traditional handwoven bamboo crafts into the modern design were incorporated. These hand crafted bamboo objects were created by local craftsman using traditional techniques. Also, several new line proportions and shapes from traditional Taiwanese architecture elements were developed. A modern interpretation of these transformed traditional elements were thus the main theme within and without in the adaptive re-use of this existing building.

Incorporate nature and present the property in an environmental friendly manner.
To have an environmental friendly property and to reflect the local mild climate year round, all windows can be fully opened to minimize the usage of air conditioning. To take advantage of the spectacular view, an unobstructed vista from Tachien Mountain nearby to the distant beach from inside of the rooms were carefully managed for all rooms. Wing walls were added to minimize the effect of the downdrafts on the side of the mountain during the winter. Reflecting pools were strategically placed to help maintain a constant moderate temperature year round.