W House in China
W HOUSE
Slow Architects
LOCATION
Beijing, China
PHOTOGRAPHS
Fei Zhiwei
ARCHITECTS
Slow Architects
CATEGORY
Houses
YEAR
2012
This is a studio and residence built from the renovation and expansion of a small single-story building. The original building was a brick structure with slope roof.
Now we take away the old roof and change it into three stories by making use of original brick walls and adding new light wooden structure walls.
Since the surrounding environment is relatively messy, we put wood workshop which is not so private on the first floor, and lift the living functions on to the second floor from where the orchard and farmland on the west can be seen.
The third floor consists two lofts and an outdoor terrace. The functions are organized as a series of platforms, from workshop on first floor, then dining room, living room, kitchen on second floor, finally to loft and terrace on third floor, spiraling up the two-story high atrium.
The height differences between the platforms are determined in a way that some of the terraces are floors as well as big seats where people can sit leisurely to form a very casual atmosphere.
This house is also an early test of light wood construction in China.
