Zoland Emei, Sichuan, China

Resort

Seated quietly within China's Sichuan mountain ranges, Zoland Emei wins best Resort at AHEAD Asia 2026.

Designed by Studio J and Bridgland for Unique Boutique Hotels, the project uses restrained architectural forms and a refined material palette to establish a fluid relationship between interior and exterior spaces. Mount Emei red sandstone is used extensively alongside timber and slate, grounding the experience in local materials by ensuring that sensory experience is directly tied to place.

The panel praised the resort’s “effortless simplicity” and “clean execution of detail”, describing its forms and spaces as beautifully composed through layered, contrasting materials rooted in the landscape. As one judge concluded, the restrained design proves that “less is indeed more”.

Winners
Global Headline Sponsor
 
RH

Trophy Sponsor
 
Preciosa

Global Sponsors
 
Kaldewei
 
Laufen
 
Lutron
 
Roca
 
Villeroy&Boch

Event Sponsors
 
Del Mar Lighting
 
Gessi
 
Hansgrohe
 
Kohler
 
Magnovent
 
Preciosa
 
TECE

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