PLAT ASIA expands the baiyinkulun steppe resort with small suites
PLAT ASIA completes the Volcano-In Hotel of Arrivals, a low-impact hospitality retreat set within the Baiyinkulun Steppe & Volcano Tourism Resort in Inner Mongolia, China. Positioned on the southern slope of a dormant volcanic landscape, the project extends the same tourism development that also includes the studio’s nearby Volcano-In Visitor Center (find designboom’s previous coverage here). Completed in December 2025, the resort hotel disperses a cluster of small, volcanic-shaped guest suites across the fragile grassland terrain, framing panoramic views of the surrounding steppe, lakes, and sandy plains. 
The project is composed of compact circular dwellings, their geometry inspired by volcanic cones formed through branching lava flows. Each cabin is clad in reddish metal panels and topped with a cone-like aluminum roof that reflects the stark light of the steppe. Slightly elevated above the ground, the units appear to hover over the terrain while minimizing construction impact. Stone-paved paths made from local volcanic rock link the dispersed suites, reinforcing the sense that the architecture grows out of the geological landscape itself. 
all images by Arch-Exist
inner mongolia’s volcanic terrain shapes an ecological hotel
Led by architect Bian Baoyang, the project emerges from long-term geological research into the volcanic terrain of the region, which has undergone roughly 150,000 years of erosion. The design team discovered that wind-driven snow and shifting sand had created depressions across the southern slope where vegetation struggled to grow. The Beijing-based architectural platform positions the cabins directly above these existing sand pits, stabilizing the terrain while allowing ecological recovery. Curved retaining walls act as wind buffers and snow screens, helping retain moisture and improve conditions for plant life in the harsh steppe climate. 
Inside the guest suites, PLAT ASIA frames views of the surrounding wilderness through carefully proportioned openings inspired by Chinese scroll paintings. Each room includes an oval skylight above the bed for stargazing, alongside elongated horizontal windows that frame the distant volcanic horizon. The compositions of sky, grassland, lake, and sand unfold like layered landscapes within these frames, encouraging quiet observation of the vast steppe environment.
PLAT ASIA completes the Volcano-In Hotel of Arrivals
the resort hotel disperses a cluster of small, volcanic-shaped guest suites
the project is composed of compact circular dwellings
inspired by volcanic cones formed through branching lava flows
each cabin is clad in reddish metal panels
stone-paved paths made from local volcanic rock link the dispersed suites
project info:
name: Volcano-In Hotel of Arrivals
architect: PLAT ASIA | @platasia
location: Baiyinkulun Steppe & Volcano Tourism Resort, Xilinhot, Inner Mongolia, China
principal architect: Bian Baoyang
project architect: Ma Xuan, Guo Lulu
site area: 5,540 square meters
building area: 1,634 square meters
landscape design: Zhang Xiaozhan, Wang Xiaochun
client: Inner Mongolia DA MENG SHEN ZHOU Tourism & Development Co., Ltd
operator: Baiyinkulun Steppe & Volcano Tourism Resort
construction design: Beijing Zhongtian Jianzhong Engineering Design Co., Ltd
steel structure design and construction: Beijing Jinshengjie Membrane Structure Technology Ltd
glass curtain wall and roof construction: TONGCHUANGHUAJIAN Group
lighting consultant: Beijing Wuse International Lighting
construction contractor: Inner Mongolia TianLong Construction Co., Ltd
photographer: Arch-Exist | @archexist
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