Rachel Vivienda by Chester Goh is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award de Plata in Diseño de Arquitectura, Edificación y Estructuras Competition Category.

PlataArquitectura· 2021

Rachel Vivienda

by Chester Goh

Client: CE-ST Design Studio

A' Design Award de Plata Winner in Arquitectura Category

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Colors

The Design

About Rachel Vivienda

Rachel es una villa de cuatro plantas construida en torno a un patio central de agua en la ciudad de Zhongshan, China. Los espacios de la planta baja se abren al patio y favorecen la interacción familiar, mientras que los dormitorios de los pisos superiores conservan su privacidad. Los volúmenes escalonados de los dormitorios conforman una fachada limpia y moderna y enmarcan las vistas hacia el jardín paisajístico. Los balcones en voladizo actúan además como aleros de sombra para las terrazas de la planta baja. La madera en tonos tierra se combina con granito gris natural. Los grandes ventanales de suelo a techo favorecen la ventilación de los espacios interiores.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Plata

Rachel Vivienda ha ganado el A' Design Award de Plata, un reconocimiento extraordinariamente prestigioso concedido a diseños de gama alta, magníficos e impresionantes. Los ganadores de Plata son obras tremendamente brillantes y sumamente creativas que ilustran la destacada experiencia, el talento y la agudeza de sus diseñadores. Se espera que Rachel Vivienda sea una obra maravillosa y emblemática, notablemente profesional y profundamente innovadora. Este diseño ganador del A' Design Award de Plata es una invención muy notable y admirada que beneficia y hace avanzar las fronteras del arte, la ciencia, el diseño y la tecnología. Rachel Vivienda es una creación enormemente envidiada que evoca deseos, aporta sentimientos positivos y despierta asombro y admiración.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Rachel House was designed to ensure an open environment for the family to interact and enjoy the central water courtyard on the ground level while maintaining their privacy on the upper floor bedrooms. The clean and modern facade is derived from juxtaposing bedroom cubes where one can enjoy framed views out into the lush oriental-themed landscape garden. The ground floor spaces open into the tranquility of the courtyard and the sound of flowing water.
Dimensions & Packaging: Site area of 1000m2, Building area of 1300m2
Tags: Architecture, Residential, Villa, House, Facade, Modern, Contemporary
Production Technology: Taking inspiration from nature - an earthy yet subtle color palette was proposed. The combination of the earth-colored wood with the natural grey granite creates a unique rhythm throughout the surface of the facade. Large floor to ceiling windows assists tremendously with the ventilation of the spaces according to the weather conditions of the location with ample overhang in necessary places and even vertical walls on the facade for shielding against weather and sunlight.
Design Challenge: The challenge was to create a seamless blend between architecture, interior, and nature. The design essence of the villa had to represent the client's admiration for nature and sustainability. Some of the rocks that were originally part of the site also are seen in the courtyard, making the landscaping more organic and natural. The courtyard of this project is derived from techniques used extensively in southern China, that features an aura of serenity and tranquillity in the courtyard space.
Research: The project aims to strike an intricate balance between privacy and social interaction. The building is also designed with multiple perspectives to enjoy the landscape of this courtyard. One of the main features includes the analysis of the technique Enframed Scenery in the Chinese Gardens, where one can enjoy multiple scenic framed perspectives of the courtyard. All the species of trees chosen are as per the Chinese seasonal trees. As a result, the scenery doesn’t remain stagnant all year long but reflects the four major seasons as they occur, further lending to the uniqueness of the house.
Inspiration: The intent was to create a space that would foster family bonding and create an overall warm and welcoming space for the users and their guests. Geometric blocks of different scales work together seamlessly on the facade. These staggered balcony blocks house the main bedrooms that are purposefully designed to overlook the central courtyard garden. The cantilevered balcony structure simultaneously acts as a sun-shading overhang for the ground floor terraces.
Project Duration: The project started in 2016 and finished in 2020 January in Zhongshan City, China.
Operation Flow: The four-storey villa is designed to embrace a central water garden courtyard. The main idea was to incorporate and align the lifestyle and personalities of the building users with those of the house, hence the introduction of straight lines and symmetrical shapes came into the picture. The clean and modern lines of the exterior reveal the concept of simplicity and subtleness.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Chester Goh, 2019
Team Members: Chester Goh;
Li Chujun;
Sun Xilin;
Carson Huang;
He Weiqiu
Image Credits: Image #1 : Photographer Zhang Chao / CE-ST 2019
Image #2 : Photographer Zhang Chao / CE-ST 2019
Image #3 : Photographer Zhang Chao / CE-ST 2019
Image #4 : Photographer Zhang Chao / CE-ST 2019
Image #5 : Photographer Zhang Chao / CE-ST 2019