traditional cellular geographic patterns inform li guifen rural complex's layout in china

li guifen rural complex integrates architecture with agriculture

The Li Guifen Rural Complex, designed by the Architectural Creation Center of SDUP, is a project rooted deeply in its agricultural setting. Located in a village called Li Guifen in China, the complex is situated within a landscape that reflects centuries-old agricultural traditions. The design of the complex integrates seamlessly into the surrounding environment, creating a space that feels like an extension of the village itself, embodying a sense of inclusiveness and resilience.

The architectural layout of the Li Guifen Rural Complex draws from the traditional cellular geographic patterns of rural settlements in China, where villages often resemble a nucleus surrounded by fields acting as the cytoplasm. This pattern is evident in the way the complex is nestled between two adjacent villages in Yinxiang, Beishang County, Jinan. These villages, though close, maintain distinct subcultural identities, and the space between them has historically been occupied by communal elements such as ponds, woodlands, and breeding farms.

the newly constructed complex lies between two villages | all images by Shuidaomu

design embraces the vibrant and dynamic context of Qilu region

With the decline of traditional farming practices, particularly the abandonment of breeding farms, the design of the Li Guifen Rural Complex reimagines the boundaries between these villages. The complex serves as a public living collective, reflecting a new approach to rural architecture that balances tradition with contemporary needs.

Architecturally, the complex embodies the principles of postmodern design, where the interplay of narrative, time, conflict, and rationality is evident. The design, conceived by the team at the Architectural Creation Center of SDUP, avoids notions of rural landscapes often associated with the petite bourgeoisie and instead embraces the vibrant and dynamic context of the Qilu region. The complex fosters an organic complexity, where the natural landscape, earth, and human spaces interact across multiple dimensions, creating a space that is both functional and deeply connected to its cultural and environmental context.

new spatial pattern of public and settlement areas, boundaries, and zones with the surrounding villages

entrances at different levels open towards the plaza

response to the megastructure and the Micro 8

megastructure on the Plains

dialogue with the surrounding landscape

circular eye rises near the open field

design language applied on a more micro scale

interior node

1/3

interior node

window - eye

human scale

project info:

name: Li Guifen Rural Complex

architects: Architectural Creation Center of SDUP
design team: Gai Shuaishuai, Liang shuyang, Lizhen, Liyuanyuan, Liuquanyi

location: Jinan, China

photography: Shuidaomu

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom