AZL Architects 张雷联合建筑事务所

CIPEA No.4 House

CIPEA No.4 House
© Yao Li
CIPEA No.4 House
© Yao Li

CIPEA NO.4 HOUSE

Azl Architects

CATEGORY
Houses

LOCATION
Nanjing, China

ARCHITECTS
Azl Architects

AREA
500.0 m²

YEAR
2008

PHOTOGRAPHS
Yao Li

Text description provided by architect.

Situated in Laoshan Forest to the west of central Nanjing city, China International Practical Exhibition of Architecture (CIPEA) began in 2003 to bring twenty-four renowned international & domestic architects together onto one site.

CIPEA consist of four public buildings and twenty small houses, in accordance with the brief, the houses should have at least five bedrooms, public spaces, and hospitality accommodations on 500 square meters.

CIPEA No.4 House
© Yao Li
CIPEA No.4 House
© Yao Li

The Number Four “Blockhouse” sits on a particularly valley site, nestling the house into the landscape.

In the spirit of a pagoda, four cubic floors are stacked vertically, allowing for minimal site excavation and land use.

CIPEA No.4 House
© Yao Li
CIPEA No.4 House

The ground floor features living and dining spaces quietly enveloped in the surrounding forest and overlooking a stream, and a communal roof terrace rises to just above the trees.

The roof merges into the landscape as another living space, complete with pool and wooden deck within the panorama of the forest.

CIPEA No.4 House
© Yao Li
CIPEA No.4 House
© Yao Li

The geometric shape is sculpted from concrete and finished in a white protection surface.

The concept of Blockhouse is almost the living attitude of many Chinese: a minimal opening to the surrounding landscape is the only perforation of the richness inside the house.

The horizontal break of each floor—in combination with larger unique curved apertures on each floor—frame vistas in the spirit of Chinese landscape scrolls.

CIPEA No.4 House
© Yao Li
CIPEA No.4 House
© Yao Li
CIPEA No.4 House
© Yao Li

Prescribed views have a long tradition in Chinese art history and traditional Chinese gardens, designed to make the viewer reconsider and contemplate the landscape.


CIPEA No.4 House
Second Floor Plan
CIPEA No.4 House
Fourth Floor Plan
CIPEA No.4 House
First Floor Plan
CIPEA No.4 House
Site Plan
CIPEA No.4 House
Section


CIPEA No.4 House
East Facade
CIPEA No.4 House
West Facade
CIPEA No.4 House
South Facade
CIPEA No.4 House
North Facade

AZL Architects 张雷联合建筑事务所
T +86 25 51861369 F +86 25 51861367
AZL Architects 张雷联合建筑事务所
Block A, Fei Yimin Building, Nanjing University, Nanjing,China 210093 中国南京市南京大学费彝民楼A座