wutopia lab adds micro chinese garden to 'the hiding house' in shanghai

wutopia lab has completed ‘the hiding house’ in shanghai with a micro chinese garden formed by black volcanic rock, taihu stones, wisteria and bauhinia trees. the residence comprises two volumes connected via an open wooden deck, which is in direct contact with the garden. the main volume houses all living activities, while the second volume encloses the tearoom on the ground level and an open, circular terrace on its roof.

all images by creatAR images

wutopia lab, who developed the project together with sunyat, divided ‘the hiding house’ in two main parts, living space and service space, through a continuous surface. on the south side of this surface, the architects have placed the living room, which also serves as an exhibition room and library, the dining room, the master bedroom, the tearoom, and the courtyard, which doubles as a garden and stage. the other side houses the e kitchen, toilet, equipment room and a room for exhibitions. the mezzanine level is designed for services, storage, and other living activities.

‘for 74 months, the client did not know what he wanted,’ notes wutopia lab about the project, which took six years to complete. ‘but he was certain that he wanted to present the dramatic experience of life without exaggerating it.’ ‘the hiding house’ is characterized by multiple functional roles occurring at once, from a residence, to a small museum, exhibition space, and library. ‘the boundary between private and public is blurred,’ adds the shanghai-based architecture studio. ‘from the perspective of events, real and fictitious, public and private, all were intertwined into ambiguous contexts at different scales.’

in its construction, the house combines volcanic rock, taihu stone, perforated aluminum plate, glass, steel plate, diatom mud, wood, and white cement. large windows connect interiors with the micro chinese garden outside, which forms the center of the project. located in a separate volume, the tearoom is characterized by a continuous glass window and a perforated plate that ensures enough privacy. the courtyard is complete with a translucent curtain that separates it from the wooden deck and transforms it into a stage.