A' Design Award in Architecture, Building and Structure Design Goes to The Ancestor House Hotel by Chen Xiao and Chen Dilong

The Work

Project

The Ancestor House Hotel

Function

Hotel

Category

Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Discipline

Spatial Design

Industry

Architecture

Colors

Light Slate Gray, Light Steel Blue, Dark Slate Gray, Black and Dim Gray

Images

5

Client

Yushe Design& JAZ BUILD

The Recognition

Laureate

Chen Xiao and Chen Dilong

Country

China

Recognition

A' Design Award

Edition

2019 - 2020

Design ID

#101465

Credits

Team

Yushe Design & JAZ BUILD, Principal Architect：Chen Xiao、Li Zhiqiang、Xu Yi、Gao Shantong, Architectural Design：Li Na、Pang Di、Liang Xiuzhu, Interior Design：Mao Lili、Chen Peng、Zhao Xikang, Landscape Design：Yu Haoyan、Chen Jingfeng、Ma Jiang and Chen Dilong、Li Juan、Huang Limin

Image Credits

Photography: Fancy Image

Design Details

Unique Properties

The return to pastoral life has long been an ideal of Chinese literary tradition and turned into nostalgia for rural lands. The property was the family mansion first built in 1898 by Zhou Ansheng, the grandfather of the client who tasked us for the renovation. However, it has been largely derelict for decades since the family members left hometown for better living. The original building was a traditional Chinese courtyard dwelling — three-hall structure with two wings and four internal courtyards.

Inspiration

Globalization and rapid urbanization promise better lives, but also widen the gap between rural and urban regions. We may say, rural China is in a terrible predicament of identity anxiety and cultural deficiencies. In this dual situation, how can architects do to “urbanize the countryside" sustainably, raise the status of rural areas, and inspire rural self-confidence? We think the best solution to rural revitalization would never be building new houses over old ones.

Research

Courtyards are spiritual place for Chinese ancient literati, and still a longing place for urbanite where they can be assured of being personally pampered in beautiful rural surroundings to get away from the hustle and bustle. Famous Chinese writer Lin Yutang, also best known is the West for his English writing once described his ideal home：“Garden within a house, house within a garden, courtyard among rooms, trees among courtyard, sky above trees, moon in sky”, reflecting the most distinctive feature of Chinese home design of all ages is the stone-paved courtyard, just similar in effect to a Spanish cloister, and symbolizing peace, quiet and repose.

Challenge

There were always gaps between the ideal of design and the reality of the craftsmen’s experience and techniques, for example, at first, we would like to do antique finish of the facade wall to show the history of the house, but with several rounds of negotiation and mutual compromises, it turns out to be fresh white. Anyway, for our design team, this project was a most thorough practice of our “buildingless” approach.

Realization and Technology

After discussion, we made it a priority to restore and repair the existing building, keep the original spatial layout, revive the sense of sophistication and stateliness that existed when the original property was first built, an ode to its past. As a result, the original structure of Huizhou-style façade and walls were revamped and reinforced by steel-concrete structure so as to eliminate air/wind leakage and potential structural risks. The severely damaged through type timber frame were rebuilt according the original structure.

Operation and Interaction

Before getting down to the renovation work, the designers and craftsmen checked the status of the timber structure and walls, and decided on renovation methods for the most crucial parts, including the roof, the timber frame and the exterior walls. On the roof, only one layer of small black tiles were laid for rain proof, where lots of leakage points could be found. As a result, new timber roof boarding and waterproof membranes would be laid underneath the tiles. As for the main structure, the pillars and most main beams were severely damaged, so most of them need to be rebuilt. For us, the architecture itself should be like the one born in the earth.

Project Duration and Location

Design Phase：2017.3-2018.7 Construction：2017.11-2019.11 Project Location: Zhouwujie Village, Changxing County, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province

Keywords

Architectural Design, Interior Design, Landscape Design, Adaptive Re-Use, Hotel, Residence,