▲ Overall external night view
▲ Night view of the flower brick wall
This project is located in Sanhe Village, Mizi Township, Fuping County, Weinan City, Shaanxi Province, China. The village is rich in natural resources and steeped in a long history and cultural tradition, serving as a typical example of “Guanzhong” villages. It is also a cherished spiritual home for Shaanxi residents, evoking deep feelings of nostalgia.
As the importance of cultural heritage and spiritual identity grows within Chinese society, rural areas now carry a significant responsibility. This project aims to revitalize the humanistic qualities and spiritual essence that rural buildings should embody. Through thoughtful design, it seeks to meet both the material and cultural needs of rural residents while enhancing public infrastructure in the countryside.
▲ Night view of the southern entrance
From a public services perspective, this project functions as a true “rural complex.” It incorporates a senior happiness home, rural health center, village history exhibition room, information service station, rural industry exhibition platform, cultural activity center, reading and learning room, spiritual civilization propaganda center, a village (BIM work) stage, an outdoor sports stadium, and ten other facilities. The goal is to actively promote rural culture and enrich the lives of local residents.
▲ Entrance to the Elderly Happiness Home
From an architectural design standpoint, this project explores the pure potential of rural construction through three key approaches.
First, it involves a thoughtful reexamination of the spirit of place and the local environment. The decline of traditional culture and aesthetics has resulted in the poor quality of many rural buildings today, threatening the beauty of rural landscapes. This project strives to restore the defining characteristics rural buildings should have, adopting a horizontal and abstract form—calm and peaceful, yet retaining a clear identity.
▲ Aerial view from the southeast side of the model
▲ Model indoor space
Second, the project redefines traditional spatial concepts to suit modern rural life. The architectural layout preserves the traditional Chinese courtyard living style, reinterpreted for contemporary needs. Complex functions are integrated within a three-in-one courtyard spatial hierarchy, reflecting the traditional concept of “layers.” It creates dynamic variations between courtyards and rooms through horizontal and vertical dimensions. The design effectively blends indoor and outdoor spaces, generating numerous open areas that accommodate diverse activities such as living, socializing, and learning.
▲ Covered bridges, courtyards, and volumes
Third, the project focuses on the construction, expression, and contemporary presentation of regional rural materials. Locally sourced red brick is the primary material, representing a practical and authentic response to the project’s context. This masonry form serves as the architectural language throughout the design. Rather than seeking elaborate variations, the masonry emphasizes pure authenticity, highlighting the craftsmanship of local construction teams. The resulting rough textures feel natural and fitting, conveying the rustic charm essential to rural architecture, which is especially moving.
▲ Texture, volume, and depth of field
▲ Light and volume
Design Drawings:
▲ General layout
▲ Design sketch
▲ First floor plan
▲ Second floor plan
▲ Sections 1-1, 2-2, 3-3
▲ Section 4-4, South facade
▲ Sectional perspective
▲ Axis side feature generation
▲ Wall body sample
Project Information:
Project Name: Sanhe Village Villager Activity Center
Designer: Yuan Architecture Design Studio (School of Architecture, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology)
Website: www.yuan-architectocs.com
Contact email: __AI_S_SC0__
Lead Architects: Wu Rui, Li Shaochong, Wang Maozhen
Project Address: Sanhe Village, Fuping County, Shaanxi Province, China (BIM Tutorial)
Year of Completion: 2018
Total Construction Area: 790 square meters
Photographer: Sanshan Imaging (Wang Dong)
Project Team: Liu Chuang, Li Xuan, Zhao Wanjing, Hong Jinlong
Structural Engineer: Wang Xinge
Mechanical and Electrical Engineers: Hu Rui, Cheng Xue
Design Consultants: Shi Xiaojun, Li Xinghui
Technical Advisor: Gao Li
Owner: Sanhe Village Committee
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