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, Beijing’s 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 2006-2007
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
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Caiguo Qiang Courtyard House
Building - page : adrian welch / isabelle lomholt