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Caiguo Qiang Courtyard House, Beijing Building, Image, Architect, China, Project
Beijing Caiguo Qiang Courtyard House : Photos
Traditional Chinese Architecture
Architects: Studio
Pei-Zhu
Jun 2008
Caiguo Qiang Courtyard House Renovation
This residence for an artist calls for the restoration of a historically
significant classical Chinese siheyuan courtyard house,
and a new building addition within its compounds. This project was
particularly challenging because of its site: situated very close
to the Forbidden City and also the original grounds of Peking University,
the addition had to be sensitive to its external surroundings, hutong
neighborhood, and internal courtyard configuration.
The attitude we developed for this project was one of sensitive regeneration,
where contemporary and modern buildings can symbiotically co-exist
with traditional structures. Like many Chinese cities, Beijings
historical core is succumbing to unrelenting modern development
because of the difficulty in engaging traditional forms so steeped
in history. Its modern uses are formalistically at odds with traditional
contexts. However, modern structures can adopt their predecessors
vocabulary, yet still serve its modern functions.
The original siheyuan was restored to its original condition, using
traditional materials, construction technologies, and local skilled
craftsmen and builders. The double courtyard configuration was restored
into its intended void that gives presence to the south-facing buildings.
Because of disintegration over the years, the interior was replaced
with the original types of floor tiles, wall surfaces, and structural
exposure.

The new building, however, was created as an object that floats in
the larger south courtyard to face the traditional structures. In
dialogue with its immediate predecessor, the new invisible
building is both oppositional and complementary to the painstakingly
restored houses. It is detailed to be independent from the existing
courtyard walls so as to create as little impact as possible on the
old structure; visually and physically light. Modern materials like
glass and steel are used throughout the new building, so as to take
advantage of its reflective properties to pay homage to the old. It
contains new modern programs like a flexible multipurpose
space and an artist studio versus the fixed traditional programs of
the existing structure. Similarly, the light and invisible new building
is in contrast to the heavy and commanding presence of the old. But
they complement each other in form, scale, and function.
Project title Caiguo Qiang Courtyard House Renovation
Program Individual Housing
Client Caiguo Qiang
Location Beijing, China
Architects Pei Zhu, Tong Wu\Studio Pei-Zhu
Design team Liu Wentian, Hao Xiangru, Li Shaohua, He Fan
Structural consultant Xu Minsheng
Design 2006-07
Construction 2007
Completion 2007.11
Structure and materials Wood Frame
Site area 910.33sqm
Total building area 412.72sqm
Upper level floor area 412.72sqm
Floors 1

Caiguo Qiang Courtyard House Beijing - images / text from Studio
Pei-Zhu 050608
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