Changtian Yunju is situated in Changtian Village, Yunhe County, Zhejiang Province. To the north lies a wooden toy industrial park, highlighting the area’s cultural heritage.
UM’s design prioritizes a south-facing residence to maximize natural sunlight throughout the interior, creating an ideal living environment. Drawing inspiration from wooden toys, the building uses “building blocks” as a design motif, paying homage to the local wooden toy industry with a modernist architectural approach.
The overall architectural form is achieved by stacking and offsetting three distinct functional blocks, creating a dynamic visual composition.
The first floor functions as a communal area, with open living rooms facing both the north and south courtyards, serving as the visual focal points. From the entrance and staircase, the dining room—featuring separate Chinese and Western kitchens—acts as the visual endpoint.
The second floor is dedicated to private living quarters, containing two residential suites, each equipped with a study, dressing room, and private bathroom. These suites share an 18-meter balcony on the south side.
The top floor houses the owner’s private office and living area. This includes a studio with its own courtyard and an independent suite with a gym, both opening onto an L-shaped terrace that connects with the outdoor space. Additionally, a spiral staircase in the north courtyard provides access to the roof.
▲ Roof Plan
The first-floor walls are constructed using stone sourced from the waste materials of local granite factories. Traditional local craftsmen (BIM learning) arranged these materials randomly, creating a natural aesthetic while enhancing the building’s insulation.
The second-floor walls are clad in wood, the most abundant natural resource in the region. After anti-corrosion treatment, the wood’s warm and soft texture complements the stone below. Over time, the wood will naturally weather to a gray tone, harmonizing with the gray stone.
The top floor features walls painted in simple white, creating a striking contrast with expansive glass doors and windows. This design choice maintains the building’s clean and minimalist character.
The use of these three materials not only reflects different functional zones but also emphasizes the contrast in building weight and conveys a layered spiritual narrative.
This residence represents UM’s exploration of regional environment and lifestyle in the context of new rural construction. The widespread replication of European-style self-built homes by farmers in the Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai regions has led to the loss of traditional village character, spatial congestion, and aesthetic monotony. Addressing these issues is a pressing challenge that demands serious attention.
UM aims to harmonize regional culture, local materials, and traditional construction techniques in small-scale residential buildings, striving to create an “ideal home” while maintaining low construction costs.
Project Drawings:
▲ First Floor Plan
▲ Second Floor Plan
(BIM Tutorial) 
▲ Third Floor Plan
▲ Roof Plan
▲ Sectional View
▲ North Elevation View
▲ South Elevation View
▲ East Elevation View
▲ West Elevation View
Project Information:
Architect: UM
Category: Independent Residential Buildings
Lead Architect: Mu You
Building Area: 351.0 m²
Project Year: 2018
Photographer: Liu Che
Must log in before commenting!
Sign Up