via. reinterprets vernacular chinese architecture in hong kong atrium house

atrium house – a living heritage

nestled near the quiet village of lung tin tsuen, in hong kong, the ‘atrium house’ by via. represents a new model of shared living that reinterprets traditional chinese architecture. settling within an area known for its numerous historic houses and dating back to the pre-war days, the project combines vernacular aesthetics with contemporary sensibility to generate an efficient living environment including curved brick walls, timber accents, overlapping roofs, and redefined chinese courtyards.

image by kris provoost

references of tradition and ‘light moments’

via. has used silhouettes of traditional courtyard houses to inform the spatial plan, building upon notions of orders and symmetry to create sequential layers of spaces. the hong-kong based studio has formed a narrative of ‘light moments’, in order to enrich the aesthetic aspect of the project. therefore, colors representing dawn, day, dusk, and night were subtly integrated into the design to distinguish the different functional zones.

visitors enter the premises through a set of solid timber gates, embraced by handcrafted walls of bricks carefully set in a rotation to form a rippling effect. upon entry, one is immediately drawn to the ‘shadow’ feature wall which spans the entire foyer and is composed of hundreds of teardrop-shaped metal plates. these plates were hand stacked to resemble traditional roof tiles, while some of these also double as mailboxes for the residents.

image by kris provoost

formed by curved facades and brick patterns

from the foyer, movement is then drawn into the central courtyard where the club facilities are housed. here, an arrangement of contemporary brick pavilions wraps around the central pool, forming a loop of indoor and outdoor areas linked by narrow pathways, which remind of ancient hutongs. the via. team used traditionally proportioned blue bricks and worked closely with local craftsmen and heritage specialists in order to develop unique curved facades and openings in the brick patterns that allow a play of light.

accommodating cultural and leisure amenities, the pavilions are anchored by a tea salon that opens towards the calming mountain views. meanwhile, greenery and landscaped areas further tie together the courtyard with poetic calmness. when viewed from above, the overlapping roofs of these pavilions become large vessels for the trees, offering a unique perspective to the occupants of the upper levels.

image by kris provoost

interior details hinting at chinese tradition

following the exterior of the atrium house, the interiors hint at chinese heritage through architectural details. inside the banquet space, a dramatic stepped ceiling takes its form after rice terraces and reflects the varying depths of the planters above the pavilion roofs. pivoting windows connect the inside to the outside, creating contrasting shadows and mosaic floors, while allowing different levels of privacy.

these spaces are further elevated by curated pieces, from contemporary furniture and hand-painted ceramics to sculptural works in the chess pavilion, artist andrew luk’s LED-lit landscape pieces reflect the shape of traditional siheyuan residences. via. also designed bespoke signage for each activity zone crafted from stacked metal sheets with custom chinese lettering.

image by kris provoost