lacime architects arranges deqing house around three courtyards in china

situated within the scenic spot-taishan forest park, southeast of deqing county in china, lacime architects has designed the deqing living house. surrounded by green mountains and densely wooded areas, the multi-purpose leisure complex boasts a prominent location amid nature. to make the most of the setting, the design team has organized the program around a series of external courtyards and lush greenery, blurring the line between indoor and outdoor environments while creating a contemporary and expansive space.

all images © schran images

to design deqing living house, lacime has followed a traditional layout of axial symmetry, around which three courtyards are positioned. the three main buildings enclosed in the central courtyard sit in the east, west and north respectively. these are called yunbo pavilion in the east, tianqing house in the west and chuoming hall in the north, between which corridors connect each structure.

as the entrance to the building, yunbo pavilion and tianqing house connect both verandas in the south and north, providing sheltered circulation for visitors on rainy days. chuoming hall is divided into above-ground and below-ground space due to the contours of the land. the double-height space above ground is used for reception purpose, while the underground space accessed via a spiral staircase in the west is designed for exhibitions, talks, tea drinking, fitness and swimming.

marking the entrance to the main courtyard, the yunbo pavilion is articulated with a hipped roof to highlight its importance as a gateway. as the exit, tianqing house is furnished with an overhanging gable roof, and as the centerpiece on the central axis, chuoming hall is a major place for receiving guests and adopts a double-eave roof form.

the structural design comes from traditional chinese wooden architecture. the building has a simple architectural structure, comprising of beams, columns and purlins, which are left exposed on the suspended ceiling. the complex is articulated by elements of timber, glazing and water, which together create a tranquil place, ultimately befitting the forest location.

project info:

project name: deqing living house
location: deqing, zhejiang, china
owner: china railway construction real estate group co,ltd.
architectural design: lacime architects
chief architect: song zhaoqing
project manager: chen lingfeng
architectural team: guo dan, shi zheyu, wang chong
interior design: matrix interior design
area: 17,437.53 ft2 (1620 m2)
time of completion: july 2019
photography: schran images

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edited by: lynne myers | designboom