In September 2018, the Shuangshan Island Lighthouse B&B International Design Competition was officially launched. The Zhangjiagang Shuangshan Island Tourism Resort Management Committee, in collaboration with the Xiangban Culture and Tourism Group, solicited lighthouse B&B design proposals from global design agencies. The designated area for this project is located in the planned “Pearl Lighthouse Zone” of the Shuangshan Island Slow Village Town, with a total area of approximately 6,000 square meters. The competition employed a combination of professional judging and public voting. SoBA, a design firm, ultimately stood out from the 33 outstanding entries that met the requirements, winning first place in the competition.

The concept of this design is waves and sails. Through architectural form, we hope to create a unique artistic realm different from reality. The B&Bs rise and fall like waves, while the lighthouse is like a sail, soaring in the spray. The B&Bs and lighthouse complement each other in their layout while maintaining their own identities.

Even before setting foot on Shuangshan Island, one can see the sail-like lighthouse from afar on the river. As you approach the lighthouse, the curvature of the tower gradually increases until you reach the lighthouse square. At the lighthouse square, the sculptural quality of the lighthouse is maximized, resembling a three-dimensional sculpture that seems to be floating in the air, like a tile or a skirt. Looking up, the large solid shell is divided by sail-shaped glass on all four sides, leading directly to the top of the tower. In accordance with their respective architectural forms, the lighthouse and B&Bs are distributed along an axis. The lighthouse is located in the eastern part of the site, forming an outward-facing public space with the lighthouse square. The B&Bs are clustered in the western part of the site, utilizing the existing low-lying terrain in the southwest corner to create a private space facing away from the road.

The lighthouse is a curved structure with weight, while the B&Bs opposite it are gentle undulations. Stepping into the B&B area from the lighthouse square, the orderly planning is replaced by seemingly casual layouts. With reference to different axes of the lighthouse and the site environment, the individual B&B units are scattered amidst winding water features, allowing each room to have a view of the corresponding scenery outside the window. It gives people a sense of being in close proximity to mountains and forests. The highlight of the design is the themed master suite located at the top of the lighthouse. The room has a ceiling height of about 10 meters, and there are four floor-to-ceiling windows that provide a direct view of the top of the tower, composed of continuous bar-shaped glass. Guests can enjoy the courtyard views of the B&B and overlook the entire Shuangshan Island and even the opposite bank of the Yangtze River. At night, the lighthouse’s four light bands trace an upward curve in the sky, bringing a graceful ceremonial atmosphere to this space. During festivals, the top of the lighthouse can be illuminated by a light column that reaches the sky, attracting the attention of the entire island and even the opposite bank of the Yangtze River.

The design competition evaluation conference was jointly organized by the Xiangban Culture and Tourism Group, the top international design agency MSP Marsh Schwarts, and its partner firm. Professors and teams from Columbia University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte School of Architecture, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Tongji University College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Nanjing University School of Architecture and Urban Planning, and other universities participated in the conference.