A historic cinema in China's ancient city of Yangzhou has been given new life as a sophisticated boutique hotel through an innovative architectural renovation project. B.L.U.E. Architecture Studio has successfully transformed the former Subei Cinema on Guangling Road into the Jiangnan House Yangzhou Guangling, a 40-room hotel that preserves the cultural heritage of the region while creating modern hospitality spaces.

The 4,250-square-meter project is located in Yangzhou's old Guangling Road district, an area characterized by architectural clusters from different historical periods. The site features a mix of traditional timber-structure buildings and modern brick-concrete constructions from the last century, creating a diverse architectural landscape that reflects the city's rich history.

The renovation project represents a collaborative effort between multiple stakeholders, including Architecture and Engineering Co., Ltd. of Southeast University, which handled overall planning and scheme design, and B.L.U.E. Architecture Studio, which took responsibility for the hotel's operational implementation and construction phases. The project also involved Yangjian Group and Yangzhou Yijiangxuan Garden and Ancient Architecture Construction Co., Ltd., forming a comprehensive multi-stakeholder platform for joint development.

The centerpiece of the hotel is the transformed cinema auditorium, which now serves as the main lobby while preserving the original timber roof structure and utilizing the impressive high ceiling space. The design team maintained the cultural context and architectural language of the original cinema by installing a screen in the lobby to preserve the venue's cinematic function. The lobby features a central tree pond and corridor system inspired by traditional Yangzhou garden courtyard layouts, bringing natural elements indoors and creating a seamless blend between interior and exterior spaces.

Material choices throughout the renovation emphasize authenticity and historical connection. The interior design incorporates aged elm wood, natural stone flooring, and sawtooth wood veneer to evoke memories of the ancient city. Decorative elements include terrazzo details, vintage metal fittings, and cinema-inspired ornaments that highlight the building's historical function. Local Yangzhou artists collaborated on the project to create secondary interpretations of scenes and characters from films once screened at the Subei Cinema, presenting them as woodcarving prints that celebrate the venue's cinematic heritage.

Two new buildings were constructed on the site while carefully retaining the existing urban texture. These structures house a private restaurant dining room, additional guest rooms, and a sauna facility. The design concept for the new buildings draws inspiration from traditional Chinese garden elements, particularly pavilions, terraces, and curved corridors that are common architectural forms in classical gardens. This approach perpetuates the spirit and immersive experience of Yangzhou gardens while offering guests a dynamic sensory experience as they move through the spaces.

The new building facing the alley entrance features a restaurant with private dining areas on the first floor and hotel guest rooms on the second floor. Inspired by the imagery of a traditional tower, the second-floor rooms are elevated and cantilevered on a simple platform, creating an expansive viewing platform for guests while ingeniously adapting to the site's spatial constraints. The guest rooms feature sloping roofs that draw inspiration from bamboo landscapes found in Yangzhou gardens, with bamboo mold concrete creating a modern garden aesthetic.

The sauna facility, located adjacent to Cangyuan Garden, is separated from the public courtyard by a semi-transparent brick wall that ensures privacy for guests. The building features a double-sloped roof with staggered levels and shifted cantilevers that echo the overall architectural style of the site. The two main functional areas – the spa and foot massage spaces – enclose a private inner courtyard, with exterior facades that can be fully opened through folding doors and sliding windows to create a spa courtyard that blends seamlessly with the natural environment.

All 40 guest rooms maintain the original courtyard layout while incorporating modern amenities. For rooms within the cultural heritage building, the entire timber structure and facade were preserved, with contemporary systems for air conditioning, heating, and bathroom facilities carefully integrated. The renovation employs a minimalist design approach that creates a relaxed and comfortable modern atmosphere while respecting the historical character of the structures.

The project represents a significant achievement in urban renewal and heritage preservation, demonstrating how historic buildings can be successfully adapted for contemporary use while maintaining their cultural significance. Through thoughtful design that reflects memories and creates warmth, the Jiangnan House Yangzhou Guangling serves as both a modern hospitality venue and a vehicle for preserving and disseminating regional culture, offering guests an authentic experience of Yangzhou's rich architectural and cultural heritage.