an exposed Solid full of retrieved frames Stone The walls are lined with a warm, wooden interior Home near Beijing By architectural studio chaoffice.
This five-bedroom house, called House of Bluff, was built on a disused site, described by the studio as “wasteland”, partially covered with debris and stones from a collapsed building.
Beijing based Anarchy These old stones were repurposed to fill the open concrete frame of the house, which defines a playful two-storey form that incorporates terraces, walkways and courtyards connected by metal staircases and slides.
“We decided to create a house with multiple semi-exterior spaces and independent structures that would create a sense of grandeur despite the limited appearance,” the studio explained.
It says, “Working with a limited budget, we created simple geometric shapes that created a sense of rejuvenation in the space – transforming a piece of barren land into a playground.”
The overall plan of the house is defined by two existing trees on the site, each used as the focal point of two courtyards that divide the house into a more public living wing to the west and a more private wing to the east. Which consists of bedrooms and staff areas.
Using the exposed concrete grid as an organizing device, it was either enclosed to create interior spaces or left open to create a series of terraces and walkways.
“The design focuses on a basic cubic unit of 4.5 meters by 4.5 metres, which then forms the house, veranda or ‘hollow frame’,” the studio explains.
“In some instances, portions of these units were partially removed to increase lighting and sight-lines for neighbors, as well as soften the building’s appearance on the adjacent street.”
Arranged over two floors, the house is entered from an elevated space on the western edge of the site, where a long, wooden staircase leads to a double-height living area.
Highlighting the building’s divided levels, full-height windows look out onto a terrace with a sunken bathroom accessed via a separate ground floor entrance, while clerestory glazing affords views of the skyline.
Changes in level are a recurring motif throughout the site, with a metal slide connecting the entrance to the courtyard and a metal spiral staircase connecting the two levels of the outdoor walkway connecting the two wings of the house.
Once at ground floor level, the lower kitchen space is centered around a concrete fireplace, which extends upward into concrete columns that support the baths above, which form a stepped, wood-paneled ceiling. Is reflected in.
Throughout the interiors, the rough character of the exposed concrete frame and reclaimed stone is contrasted by plywood paneling, used to line the walls, storage spaces and built-in benches.
“The walls are finished with warm-toned stucco plaster, with the raised structural frame re-covered in wood panelling,” the studio explains.
“This intentional interplay of two materials not only creates a striking visual contrast, but also reflects the dualistic juxtaposition of structure and maintenance systems, thereby enriching its architectural narrative.”
Based in Beijing, ChaoOffice was founded in 2016 by Cheng Zi.
Other homes from China recently featured on Dezeen A “rustic and warm” brick house designed by Seaplus Architects to showcase the potential of Beijing’s often-neglected rural outskirts,
photography is by zhu yumeng,
