Shangsian Cottage

Huzhou
View from the riverbank to the 5th courtyard house before renovation
Photo © genarchitects
View from the living space of 5th courtyard house to the creek and bridge
Photo © Hou Bowen
External view of 6th courtyard house after renovation
Photo © Hou Bowen
Birdview of 1st-4th courtyard house
Photo © Hou Bowen
Guest room of 1st-4th courtyard house
Photo © Hou Bowen
Second floor corridor of 1st-4th courtyard house
Photo © Hou Bowen
Gable wall of 1st-4th courtyard house
Photo © Hou Bowen
Guest room and Tea House of 1st-4th courtyard house
Photo © Hou Bowen
Path of 1st-4th courtyard house
Photo © Hou Bowen
Six buildings scattered throughout the village
Drawing © genarchitects
Steel extension of 6th courtyard house
Photo © Hou Bowen
Internal view of 6th courtyard house
Photo © Hou Bowen
Site plan
Drawing © genarchitects
Section of 1st-4th courtyard house
Visualization © genarchitects
Construction diagram of the 6th courtyard house
Visualization © genarchitects
Architects
genarchitects
Location
Changxing County, Huzhou
Year
2016
Team
Fan Beilei, Kong Rui, Xue Zhe, Zhang Xun, Chen Xiaoyi, Luo Yiqian, Liu Yang, Tao Shuting, Lei Huanlingzi
Structura consultant
Zhang Zhun

Located on the west shore of Taihu Lake, shangsi’an village is flown through by Si’antang creek. A historic stone bridge connects two sides of creek. There is a significant public space near the bridge, which consists of evergreen trees and existed pavilions.

Six buildings scattered throughout the village, were chosen by the client in order to be transformed into a distributed country hotel. Among these six buildings, there is a traditional style exhibition hall near by bridge. Due to its unique location, we transformed it into a public living space for the entire hotel, where serves as a teahouse and library opened to both guests and villagers. Other buildings including a timber house from late Qing dynasty, a warehouse, as well as three two-story buildings with tile facade has been converted into hotel rooms.

Without new walls, these buildings stand with original local paths and yards, only some hints on pavement. In this case, villagers might pass through the hotel area in their daily life. We try to answer questions with the buildings’ distinguishing situation. For example, we redesigned unsteady buildings after demolition, adjusted the tile facade buildings’ functions and relink them to landscape, simply strengthened the timber house. Moreover, in front of the small exhibition hall located, the urban-flavor granite stairs has been replaced by grassy slope. We also constructed an outdoor space by setting up light pavilion, so that both villagers and guests can stay and chat there, feeling the natural breath surrounded by creek.

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