neri & hu designs lakeside villas to suit modern chinese lifestyles

neri & hu has completed a series of waterfront residences in the chinese city of suzhou. designed to suit modern chinese lifestyles, the ‘yangcheng lake villas’ break down the ‘solidity and singularity of the archetypal single family home’ into smaller units of living, which are then interwoven with the landscape. ‘the organizing elements of classic chinese gardens — path, threshold, center, and infinity — generate a sequential journey that inter­weaves interior with exterior, hardscape and softscape, natural and artificial, structured and organic,’ says the design team.

all images and video by pedro pegenaute

the complex consists of two primary elements: undulating brick walls and white boxes above. while the traditional chinese gray brick walls contain communal functions such as living and dining spaces, the upper levels accommodate more private areas including the family room and a range bedrooms. ‘the clear delineation of materiality on the surface is also a signifier for the programmatic separation of public and private realms inside,’ neri & hu explains.

the waterfront residences are located in the chinese city of suzhou

the material palette of the lower levels includes blackened wood floors, natural warm oak walls, concrete render, neutral fabrics and leathers, plus accents of bronze and black steel. in contrast, the inside of the pure white volumes above maintains a light palette of white paint, lacquer, sheer fabrics, white terrazzo, light stained oak, and brushed stainless steel. here, a series of movable panels and curtains allow the spaces to be reconfigured freely.

the complex consists of undulating brick walls and floating white boxes above

the traditional chinese gray brick walls contain communal functions

the material palette of the lower levels includes blackened wood floors

natural warm oak walls have also been used

the inside of the pure white volumes above maintains a light palette

a series of movable panels and curtains allow the spaces to be reconfigured

the upstairs palette includes sheer fabrics, white terrazzo, and light stained oak

the complex has been designed to suit modern chinese lifestyles

the clear delineation of materiality is a signifier for the programmatic separation internally

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project info:

name: yangcheng lake villas
site address: 199 yangchenghuan road, yangcheng lake, suzhou, china
project type: architecture and interior design
architect & interior designer: neri&hu design and research office
design period: september 2011 – september 2016
gross area: 600 sqm/villa x 50 villas = 30,000 sqm
program: villa

design team:
principals: lyndon neri & rossana hu
senior associate, architecture + interior design: nellie yang
senior architectural + interior designer / project manager: jerry guo
senior architectural designer: begona sebastian