archstudio mixes materials to blend spaces in a townhouse in beijing

archstudio mixes materials to blend spaces in a townhouse in beijing
(above) oak shelves were used to meet the requirements of the owner’s book collection, exhibition, and display
all images © magic penny

local-based archstudio has completed ‘haitang villa’, a project that comprises a three-story townhouse located in a residential area in the eastern suburbs of beijing. the concept of the design was to take advantage of the selection and use of materials to blur the boundary between indoor and outdoor, and the relationship among surfaces, to create an open environment rich in layers, thus to make the interior space clean of decorations that limit it, and have it return to a natural, simple, quiet, and oriental-type living atmosphere.

the first floor is developed around a living room and a study room

the first floor was developed around a living room and study room, where oak grille and shelves were used to meet the requirements of the owner’s book collection, exhibition and display, and to create a layer that generates a semitransparent sense from the outside to the inside and vice-versa. the tea room uses gray cement paint combined with a custom-made concrete countertop and tabletop. in this way, the contrast generated by the gray box and the background results in a space experience of different scales. the same technique was used in the design of the living room and bedroom.

the tea room uses gray cement paint combined with a custom-made concrete tabletop

for the basement floor, the studio reintegrated the relationship between sunken garden and the interior space, having a bamboo forest in the courtyard that creates landscape interactions between the interior and exterior views. to take advantage of the underground garage, it was turned into a guest room. the dome used in the living area of the second floor softens the relationship between the roof and the wall, which makes the interior space smooth and full of change.

tea room

small dining room

the underground garage was transformed into the guestroom

corridor 

living room

living room

dining room

sunken courtyard

analysis image

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: juliana neira | designboom