MDO’s Flowing Cloud Villa in Qinglongwu
Flowing cloud town villa is located in qinglongwu ancient city Chinese The village is part of the fangyukongxiangsu cultural and creative complex. In 2017, more Design Offices (MDOs) were delegated to restoration Six village houses found on the original site and converted into guest houses. The design concept was to create a haven outside the city for people to enjoy the history and culture of qinglongwu and immerse themselves in nature. Various cultural activities will be held there at the end of the year.
On their first visit to the site, the architects took in the relationship between the existing homes and the landscape. The buildings are located in a valley close to each other, overlooking a bamboo forest, and connect to a small cobbled street. “Homes have this great feeling of aging. Old walls and windows tell stories of the past through the marks and blemishes on their surfaces,MDO detection.
Photo © zhi xia
Gentle renovation improves contact with the landscape
Several challenges arose during the evaluation of the site. The current architecture had a traditional wooden structure, the MDO a team He wanted to preserve it and adapt to it. However, the system and roof seemed too weak and damaged to sustain upon closer examination. What’s more, the existing windows were very small, creating a dark and gloomy interior environment that prevented any real visual contact with the bamboo forest.
In response to these observations, the design of the Flowing Cloud Town Villa took a sensitive approach that improved the connection with nature. Where possible, the team retained and repaired existing walls, windows and doors with the help of local craftsmen. To fix the roof, a new steel structure was built inside the existing walls. The result is a new roof volume being raised up to create a more generous roof height. For the interiors, the new items sit as stand-alone objects offering guests a clear reading of the old versus the new.
Photo © zhi xia
“Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, we hope our guests will be able to experience the changing rhythm of the four seasons.” To optimize indoor daylight and adequately experience what happens outdoors, MDO introduced new windows finished in thin metal frames. In addition, these new windows were placed to frame the landscape from certain locations: capture a view from the bed and sofa or get a glimpse of the valley while taking a shower. As such, the landscape is treated almost like a painting.
Photo © zhi xia
Elevate the traditional atmosphere with new concrete buildings
Since two homes could not be repaired, MDO erected two new buildings near the mountain road. These new volumes carry entertainment functions such as reception and bar areas. Its architectural form is characterized by jagged concrete facades that refer to a rock exposed from the side of the hill. Such a choice of materials contrasts sharply with the traditional rocky ground of other village buildings. “Here, we recommend facing materials that can be combined with nature, withstand the effect of rain, sunlight and snow, and add a natural patina to the facade. This means that in a few years, the outer wall will become part of nature, blurring the boundaries between architecture and nature,” The team said.
Finally, the traditional lantern culture has become the inspiration and starting point for lighting design for new buildings: no matter which direction people approach, modern monoliths welcome them. However, the architects resorted to changing the lighting colors to suggest a change in spatial function and atmosphere.
Photo © xun zheng
Photo © zhao A.