The Sujiayuan Residence is nestled along the shore of Bailu Lake in Moling Street, Jiangning District, Nanjing. Surrounded by mountains, Bailu Lake is bordered by dense forests to the north and lush bamboo groves to the south. The diverse topography of Jiangning, featuring low mountains, hills, plains, and basins, forms an essential backdrop for shaping rural spaces. This landscape blends the characteristics of Jiangnan water towns with mountainous and hilly terrains.
Accessing the village through the narrow Su family entrance, you descend gently along a slope into the village center, home to over thirty households. Several abandoned public and private houses are planned to be repurposed into small service venues such as cultural and creative shops, tea houses, dessert shops, restaurants, and coffee shops.
Continuing inward, the water opens up gradually, revealing White Egret Lake beside the road. The lake’s water level is nearly flush with the adjacent road, surrounded by verdant mountains, creating a serene and expansive landscape.
At the lake’s deepest point, a dilapidated red brick wall stands on the left, partially hidden by an iron gate. Passing through this gate and ascending a series of steps leads to a single-story courtyard with abandoned brick and wood structures. To the right rear is a two-story semi-modern house with a sloping roof. The facade features an external corridor and decorative flower bricks, typical of the 1970s and 1980s style. Behind the second floor lies a small courtyard lined with one-story wooden auxiliary buildings, ending with a collapsed stone house.
Yuansheping Lake was developed from a cluster of abandoned public houses at the deepest part of White Egret Lake. This property lies between the lake and a hillside, facing the tranquil waters and backed by dense green forest.
The renovation strategy follows the “Four Originals” principle: preserving the original site, scale, landform, and materials. The original red brick courtyard on the west side will be maintained, with new courtyard suites constructed. The main room will be transformed into a reception hall, with new white flat-roofed rooms added in front of the existing sloping roof wings. Behind the main room, a new two-story white sloping roof guesthouse will be built, featuring a restaurant and kitchen on the first floor and guest rooms above. The original two-story residential building behind the living room will be preserved and converted into guest accommodations. Additionally, the auxiliary house on the east side of the second floor has been restored, with four suites renovated.
Transformation Strategy
Upon entering the original building, the main entrance has been relocated to the west side. The former lake-facing entrance has been repurposed as a landscaped internal space designed for relaxation. Later, a swimming pool was added in this area.
First Floor Plan
Facing the reception hall from inside, the design introduces courtyard elements at the entrance, leading first into a small courtyard and then into a larger one. The reception room occupies the original main house, which was demolished and rebuilt as a single-story steel-structured reception and living room. Positioned facing the lake to the south and surrounded by a small hill on the terrace, the living room features a solid north side, while the other three sides are mostly glazed to maximize views of the surrounding scenery.
Decomposition Diagram of Buildings 4-2 and 6
The two side rooms located in front of the living room have been preserved and renovated into two guest suites, each approximately 40 square meters. Their roofs have been replaced with insulated green tiles, while the interiors retain traditional wooden roof trusses. In front of each wing room, a one-story flat-roof building has been added, providing two additional lake-facing guest rooms with similar size and layout to the wing rooms. This maintains the original courtyard layout and enhances spatial enclosure.
The ground surface has been treated to prevent lake erosion, ensuring the living room has unobstructed views of the lake. The enclosed courtyard preserves two original cypress trees and features a small swimming pool. Swimming pools are particularly valued in suburban homestays, as they attract families and groups by offering recreational activities for children and guests.
The living room is situated behind the front courtyard in the backyard. The backyard retains an old two-story brick and concrete structure, which has undergone basic repairs and renovations. The roof has been updated, and window positions and sizes adjusted to accommodate living needs. The first floor houses two employee dormitories and linen offices, while the second floor has been converted into two suites.
A new two-story guesthouse has been added to the backyard, with the first floor serving as the homestay’s kitchen and restaurant, and the second floor providing standard guest rooms. The use of the building’s height allows the creation of five family rooms with partial mezzanines.
On the courtyard’s east side, a small courtyard is enclosed by a group of warehouses. Following the same renovation principles, four guest rooms were restored on the original site, maintaining the traditional sloping roof wooden structure. This configuration results in three courtyard sets, offering diverse landscapes and activity spaces.
Since opening, Yuanshe Pinghu has rapidly become Nanjing’s most popular homestay, boasting an occupancy rate exceeding 80%. It has received accolades such as China’s Most Popular Homestay Gold Award. This success is attributed to the village’s systematic, professional management and the thoughtfully designed spaces and atmosphere. As a rare high-end homestay alternative to traditional hotels, it has become a trendy destination for young travelers, offering a warm, family-like atmosphere and beautiful surroundings.
Project Drawings
Satellite Image
Location
Texture Map
Original Building Layout
Original Building Plan
Transformation Strategy
Facade of Building 1
Section of Building 1
Facade of Building 2
Section of Building 2
Facade of Building 3
Section of Building 3
Facade of Building 4
Section of Building 4
Facade of Building 5
Section of Building 5
Decomposition Diagram of Buildings 4-2 and 6
Facade of Building 6
Section of Building 6
Vertical Section of Building 7
Section of Building 8
Facade of Building 8
8. Schematic Diagram of Building 9 Decomposition
Vertical Section of Building 9
Brick Masonry Technique
Rendering
Project Information
Architect: Zhou Ling Studio / School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Nanjing University
Address: Xipisu Village, Jiangning District, Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province, China
Category: Hotel
Lead Architect: Zhou Ling
Architectural Design Team: Zhang Ying, Wu Shijia, Yin Yi, Zhang Zhan, Song Fumin, Zhang Haojie, Xie Xingyu
Interior Design Team: Zhou Ling, Dong Tianshu, Li Yang
Building Area: 1,850 square meters
Project Year: 2017
Photographer: Hou Bowen
Structural Engineer: Ding Xiaofeng
Hydroelectric Designers: Zhu Jinhua, Wang Liming
Client: Nanjing Xiangban Sujia Cultural Development Co., Ltd
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