Ning Wang

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ArchDaily China Building of the Year 2021 Awards: The Finalists

Following an exciting week of nominations, ArchDaily’s readers have evaluated over 675 projects and selected 10 finalists for the Building of the Year Award China. Architects and enthusiasts participated in the nomination process, choosing projects that exemplify what it means to push architecture forward. These finalists are the buildings that have inspired ArchDaily readers the most, which also reveal the growing trend of Chinese architecture.

The 2021 Building of the Year Awards China is brought to you thanks to Dornbracht, renowned for leading designs for architecture, which can be found internationally in bathrooms and kitchens.

Best Modern Examples of Ancient Courtyard Renovations in China

Chinese courtyard houses are one of the most common housing typologies spanning all the way from the northern capital of Beijing to the poetic southern cities Hangzhou and back to the picturesque regions of Yunnan. Typically referred as heyuan, these courtyards homes are simply a “yard enclosed on four sides."

Best Modern Examples of Ancient Courtyard Renovations in China - Image 1 of 4Best Modern Examples of Ancient Courtyard Renovations in China - Image 6 of 4Best Modern Examples of Ancient Courtyard Renovations in China - Image 13 of 4Best Modern Examples of Ancient Courtyard Renovations in China - Image 16 of 4Best Modern Examples of Ancient Courtyard Renovations in China - More Images+ 13

Mirrors in Architecture: Possibilities of Reflected Space

Humans have used mirrors since as early as 600 BCE, employing highly polished obsidian as a basic reflective surface. Over time, people began to use small pieces of gold, silver, and aluminum in a similar manner, both for their reflective properties and for decoration. By the 1st century CE, people had started using glass to make mirrors, but it was only during the European Renaissance that Venetian manufacturers began making mirrors by applying metallic backings to glass sheets, remaining the most common general method of mirror manufacturing today. Since then, mirrors have continued to play both a decorative and functional role in architecture, serving a clean, modern aesthetic despite its ancient origins. Below, we investigate how mirrors are made, provide a brief history of mirrors in architecture, and offer several tips for architects looking to use mirrors in their designs.

Yufengli Homestay / LYCS Architecture

Yufengli Homestay / LYCS Architecture - Exterior Photography, Renovation, FacadeYufengli Homestay / LYCS Architecture - Exterior Photography, Renovation, FacadeYufengli Homestay / LYCS Architecture - Interior Photography, Renovation, Beam, Table, ChairYufengli Homestay / LYCS Architecture - Interior Photography, Renovation, Beam, Facade, Door, TableYufengli Homestay / LYCS Architecture - More Images+ 23

Taizhou, China
  • Architects: LYCS Architecture
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  3298
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2019

Puqi Wu House / Greyspace Architecture Design Studio

Puqi Wu House / Greyspace Architecture Design Studio - Exterior Photography, Houses, FacadePuqi Wu House / Greyspace Architecture Design Studio - Exterior Photography, Houses, FacadePuqi Wu House / Greyspace Architecture Design Studio - Exterior Photography, Houses, Facade, Door, BalconyPuqi Wu House / Greyspace Architecture Design Studio - Exterior Photography, Houses, Garden, Facade, ArchPuqi Wu House / Greyspace Architecture Design Studio - More Images+ 20

Putian, China

Qishe Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO

Qishe Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - Exterior Photography, Renovation, Facade, StairsQishe Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - Exterior Photography, Renovation, StairsQishe Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - Exterior Photography, Renovation, Facade, ArchQishe Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - Exterior Photography, Renovation, Facade, Arch, Arcade, Column, BeamQishe Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - More Images+ 44

Beijing, China
  • Architects: ARCHSTUDIO
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  500
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2020
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Acor, Toto

Best Houses of 2019

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More than 5.000 architecture projects were published in ArchDaily this year.  Year after year, we curate hundreds of residential projects, and as we know our readers love houses, we compiled a selection of the most visited residential projects published on the site. 

Set in various locations around the world, in urban, rural, mountain and beach landscapes; a variety of structural designs, from traditional masonry to the most technological prefabricated systems; from small dwellings to large houses and materials such as concrete, wood, and bricks as the most used. We also found their design and typology solutions were very much aligned with their specific settings and all of them share a strong dialogue between the house and nature, whether it is its direct surroundings or the introduction of green into a more condensed urban setting. 

This selection of 50 houses highlights the most visited examples during these twelve months and, according to our readers, were the most attractive in innovation, construction techniques, and design challenges. Check them out below:

IOMA Art Center / ARCHSTUDIO

IOMA Art Center / ARCHSTUDIO - Renovation, FacadeIOMA Art Center / ARCHSTUDIO - Renovation, FacadeIOMA Art Center / ARCHSTUDIO - Renovation, FacadeIOMA Art Center / ARCHSTUDIO - Renovation, FacadeIOMA Art Center / ARCHSTUDIO - More Images+ 25

  • Architects: ARCHSTUDIO
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  3000
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2019

Dingshi Logistics Office / ARCHSTUDIO

Dingshi Logistics Office / ARCHSTUDIO - Office Buildings, Garden, Beam, FacadeDingshi Logistics Office / ARCHSTUDIO - Office Buildings, Door, FacadeDingshi Logistics Office / ARCHSTUDIO - Office Buildings, Door, Beam, FacadeDingshi Logistics Office / ARCHSTUDIO - Office Buildings, FacadeDingshi Logistics Office / ARCHSTUDIO - More Images+ 57

  • Architects: ARCHSTUDIO
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  4617
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2019

Folding Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO

Folding Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - Renovation, Garden, StairsFolding Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - Renovation, Stairs, Facade, Fence, Handrail, CityscapeFolding Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - Renovation, Courtyard, Facade, HandrailFolding Courtyard / ARCHSTUDIO - Renovation, Facade, HandrailFolding 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

Courtyard Villa / ARCHSTUDIO

Courtyard Villa / ARCHSTUDIO - HousingCourtyard Villa / ARCHSTUDIO - Housing, Garden, FacadeCourtyard Villa / ARCHSTUDIO - Housing, Beam, Door, Facade, Chair, TableCourtyard Villa / ARCHSTUDIO - Housing, Bedroom, Bathtub, Bed, ChairCourtyard Villa / ARCHSTUDIO - More Images+ 32

Tangshan, China
  • Architects: ARCHSTUDIO
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  265
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2019
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  Beijing Xinnan Wood Structural Engineer, CECEP Guohuan New Material, Hongya Bamboo Era Technology, Hunter Douglas, techsize
  • Professionals: JAGA

Mirror Garden / ARCHSTUDIO

  • Architects: ARCHSTUDIO
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  283
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2019