Baochao Hutong 庭院改造 by Daga Architects is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 A' Design Award 銀獎 in 建築、樓宇及結構設計 Competition Category.

銀建築· 2022

Baochao Hutong 庭院改造

by Daga Architects

Client: DAGA Architects

A' Design Award 銀獎 Winner in 建築 Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #117572

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Baochao Hutong 庭院改造

寶鈔胡同係一個位於北京胡同區嘅四合院改造項目。庭院面積約12平方米，呈狹長形。院子嘅地面同牆身都採用咗鏡面玻璃，反光嘅表面令細小嘅空間顯得更加寬敞，同時映照出周圍嘅巷弄、樹木同天空。受損嘅木結構經過加固處理，外立面重建為玻璃幕牆。通透嘅立面將日光引入室內，並讓視線可以貫穿整個庭院。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 銀獎

Baochao Hutong 庭院改造是 A' Design Award 銀獎得主，這是授予頂級、華美而令人印象深刻的設計的極為崇高的認可。銀獎得主是極其卓越、極具創造力的作品，展現出其設計師傑出的專業技能、才華與敏銳。預計Baochao Hutong 庭院改造將成為一件出色的典範之作，兼具非凡的專業性與深刻的創新性。這件贏得 A' Design Award 銀獎的設計是一項備受矚目、令人欽佩的發明，造福並拓展藝術、科學、設計和技術的界限。Baochao Hutong 庭院改造是一件令人羨慕的創作，它喚起渴望，帶來積極的情感，並激發驚嘆與讚嘆。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: This courtyard is located in the Beijing Hutong area with an area of 12 sqm. Mirror glass is used on the ground and walls of the yard. When the owner steps into the door, she will be surrounded by the perspective effect of specular reflection, which increases the permeability of the space and gives people a double landscape experience. The unique reflectivity of the mirror allows the surrounding hutongs, trees, and sky to be reflected on the ground of the yard, which brings more possibilities to space.
Dimensions & Packaging: Width 7750mm x Depth 13400mm x Height 240mm
Since this is an L-shape project, the floor area is the result of
7750mm x 13400mm minor the result of 4670mm x 6820mm.
Tags: Architecture, Renovation, Interior Design, Courtyard, Transparent, DAGA
Production Technology: Mirror glass is mainly used for the ground and wall part of the yard. The unique reflectivity of the material can make the surrounding hutongs, trees and sky map to the ground of the yard, bringing more possibilities to the space. Since the small courtyard is only about 12 ㎡ with a long and narrow shape. The glass mirrors of the ground and walls enlarge the area of the courtyard visually. When the owner steps into the door, she will be surrounded by the perspective effect of specular reflection. In the transformation, the dis-repaired wooden structure has been strengthened, and the facade has been changed into the form of glass curtain wall. The transparent curtain wall added day-lighting to the interior space, allowing the line of sight to penetrate each other on both sides of the courtyard.
Design Challenge: The courtyard is really small and narrow with a square of 12㎡, in order to make it visually spacious, mirror glass is used on the ground and walls of the yard. The unique reflectivity of the material allows the surrounding hutongs, trees, and sky to be reflected on the ground of the yard, which brings more possibilities to space. This kind of interaction between virtual and reality is more prominent. People in the scene, people also in the mirror, in the layered reflection and transparent contrast, give people a sense of space experience like a dream.
Research: Type of Research: Applied research practice
Research Objectives: To explore a design language in a house renovation project in Hutong to bring back memories and histories and connect people and buildings through creating new contrast and integration between people, house and the Hutong community.
Methodology: The core construction method is to use mirror. Mirror glass is used on the ground and walls of the yard in order to accept the environment (hutongs, trees, and sky) into the house. This allows to create and kaleidoscope which means a collection of Greek words such as KALOS (beautiful), EIDOS (shape), and SCOPE (watch)
Data Collection and Research Tools: Data are obtained from client and remeasured. Kaleidoscope is an essential concept for this house. Using mirror and black bricks allows us to express the design concept: reflecting and transparentizing surrounding spaces and local community environments.
Participants or Experiments: DAGA Architects and the client.
Results, Insights and Impacts: A living space suitable for the modern lifestyle has been created, and the life marks of those hutongs that have been awaken. This 'invisible yard' has positively impacted a client and a local hutong community. Most of the buildings in Hutong are old and dilapidated. This house with light and mirror brings new modern features and create new identity, refreshing local residents' memories and history.
Effect of the Research in Real-Life Phenomena: Effect of the research in real life phenomena : Renovating a house in a plot does not mean fixing one architectural building in a community. It needs to be connected with local residents, visitors, and people living around that area. Using mirrors and the existing bricks, this building is naturally placed in the hutong area. The spaces are connected through visibility, lights, and unique materials in Hutong.
Inspiration: Mirror glass is used on the ground and walls of the yard. The unique reflectivity of the material allows the surrounding hutongs, trees, and sky to be reflected on the ground of the yard, which brings more possibilities to space. This kind of interaction between virtual and reality is more prominent. People in the scene, people also in the mirror, in the layered reflection and transparent contrast, give people a sense of space experience like a dream.
Project Duration: The project started in June 15th 2020 and finished in June 29th 2020 in Beijing, took only 14 days.
Operation Flow: The design of the mirror gives the building an interesting relationship with its surroundings: the mirrored ground reflects the surrounding environment, and the building is surrounded by trees and sky as if it disappears in the environment. The owner can take a glimpse of the changes in the surrounding environment in the room, and the ground turns into a huge picture, reflecting and changes in nature. At the same time, the mirror also blurs the boundaries of internal and external, blurring the boundary between virtual and real. The scene flowing in the mirror made the yard move, refreshing people's hearts with invisible poetry. People's sight seems to be lost in the unreachable landscape, and the scenery reflected in the mirror is close at hand.
Team Members: Design Director: Shen Jianghai
Interior Designer: Li Shaoyi
Decoration Designer: Yu Xiaoyu
Designer: Gao Yuze
Designer: Zeng Yijun
Designer； Liu Yu
Image Credits: Image #1 : Photographer Jin Weiqi, Baochao Hutong Mirror Yard, 2020.
Image #2 : Photographer Jin Weiqi, Baochao Hutong Mirror Yard, 2020.
Image #3 : Photographer Jin Weiqi, Baochao Hutong Mirror Yard, 2020.
Image #4 : Photographer Jin Weiqi, Baochao Hutong Mirror Yard, 2020.
Image #5 : Photographer Jin Weiqi, Baochao Hutong Mirror Yard, 2020.