Folding Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO

Folding Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - Image 2 of 30Folding Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - Exterior Photography, WindowsFolding Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - Image 4 of 30Folding Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - Image 5 of 30Folding Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - More Images+ 25

Dongcheng, China
  • Architects: ARCHSTUDIO
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  410
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2019
  • Photographs
    Photographs:Ning Wang
  • Chief Designer: Wenqiang Han
  • Design Team: Tao Huang, Tonghui Wang, Fuhua Zhang, Baowei Zheng, Yan Yu
  • Site Area: 308 m2
  • City: Dongcheng
  • Country: China
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Folding Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - Image 2 of 30
Roof. Image © Ning Wang

Text description provided by the architects. The project is located in Qianliang Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing, with a site area of about 410 square meters. Different from a typical "Siheyuan" with sloped roof, the original architecture was composed of several disconnected flat-topped rooms featuring a traditional brick-and-concrete structure, which are supposed to be transformed from a Siheyuan at one time and can be seen in many old areas of Beijing.

Folding Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - Exterior Photography, Windows
Roof. Image © Ning Wang

The site consisted of two parts. The front part was an open ground with two brick rooms and an old tree, while the rear part presented a U-shaped structure and had a courtyard roofed by glass. The original building, with isolated and narrow rooms and a lack of infrastructures, was gradually worn out so that it needed to be completely reconstructed in order to meet the demands of modern life.

Folding Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - Image 4 of 30
Inner Yard. Image © Ning Wang
Folding Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - Image 23 of 30
Axonometric diagram
Folding Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - Interior Photography, Facade
Inner Yard. Image © Ning Wang

The rebuilt building will be rented for multiple purposes such as working, friends gathering, and dwelling, so the greatest challenge for this transformation project was how to present a more dynamic space with a variety of functions through appropriate demolition and renovation based on site conditions. 

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Inner Yard. Image © Ning Wang
Folding Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - Image 25 of 30
Generation illustration
Folding Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - Image 9 of 30
Inner Yard. Image © Ning Wang

Considering the characteristics of flat-roofed buildings, ARCHSTUDIO added corridors and staircases to link rooms and yards, roof and ground respectively. In this way, a “folding” and looping circulation route was formed, allowing interactions between interiors and exteriors, up and down, and new and old. The even roof is not only a rare public activity area, but also an extension of internal functions, with its landscape forming interesting contrast to the surrounding pitched-roof buildings and trees.

Along the circulation route, four yards of different scales were marked out, including a long and narrow yard embellished with bamboos at the entrance, a yard with an old locust tree remained in situ, a yard characterized by waterscape and cobbles, with the original glass roof removed, and a south-facing backyard connecting to the neighbor's house. By following the circulation, people can enjoy variable views in the space.

Folding Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - Image 13 of 30
Corridor. Image © Ning Wang

ARCHSTUDIO retained the two brick rooms that already existed, and at the same time inserted three new brick-structured boxes, which were set as private spaces and can serve the functions of sitting room, kitchen, restroom, etc. The gaps between the three new boxes form a continuous but detached public space for working, gathering, dining and other activities.

Folding Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - Image 5 of 30
Corridor. Image © Ning Wang

The architects hided structural columns of the roof inside the brick boxes' walls, and deliberately left gaps between the roof and boxes, with a view to letting daylight filter in. Common construction materials for Siheyuan such as bricks, grey tiles and cement were utilized for this project.

Folding Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - Image 20 of 30
Corridor. Image © Ning Wang

The rooftop was paved with grey tiles, which were arranged linearly in different directions. Notably, those tiles extend to indoor area, resulting in flowing-water-like visual effects. The roof has a cast-in-situ concrete structure, and wood grains on interior surfaces generated from the form work was retained. The brick boxes were built with old bricks from demolished houses nearby, with the wall stretching to the rooftop and forming seats for resting.

Folding Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - Image 19 of 30
Details. Image © Ning Wang

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Project location

Address:Qianliang Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Folding Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO" 30 Aug 2019. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/923870/folding-courtyard-archstudio> ISSN 0719-8884

Staircase. Image © Ning Wang

北京折叠院 / 建筑营

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