The design draws inspiration from the harmony of mountains and rivers, creating a peaceful and serene living environment. The building’s walls flow and cascade like mountains, enclosing still waters that reflect the surrounding landscapes. Tree-lined ponds with gently swaying branches, winding paths, and flowing water features evoke a sense of being nestled between mountains and water.
Elegant sunken courtyards and thoughtfully themed functional clubs further enhance the warm and tranquil atmosphere, fully expressing the lifestyle inspired by nature’s beauty.
The ‘Jiangnan Courtyard’ is located on the edge of Hangzhou’s main urban area, adjacent to vibrant areas like the West Lake Scenic Area and Wulinmen. Positioned within a ‘half-hour urban living circle,’ it is surrounded by a 1,100-meter-long waterfront, almost like an island hidden within a green belt. The residents enjoy a tranquil lifestyle by the water, maintaining a subtle presence amidst the city bustle.
From a bird’s-eye perspective, the courtyard is enveloped by water, tucked away within the bustling city. The building’s mountain-like form creates a sculptural courtyard framed by an entrance, surrounding corridors, and water features. The entrance is designed with simplicity and modernity, featuring points, lines, and planes combined with imitation wooden grilles that convey the poetic sentiment and rhythm of Eastern culture.
Grey-toned spaces and semi-transparent grilles at the entrance blend interior and exterior seamlessly. Through the grilles, the water scenery inside the courtyard and the surrounding corridors remain visible, introducing nature into the architectural experience. The courtyard’s interior is arranged in a stepped layout following the roof’s mountain-like height variations, creating an engaging spatial dynamic.
On one side of the corridor, light and transparent grilles invite visitors to lean and enjoy the scenic views of mountains and water. The vertical alignment of grilles and rolling shutters reflects the water, embodying the elegant Jiangnan style. The glass curtain walls and metal grilles add a modern and minimalist touch, while the expansive reflective water features mirror the roof’s terrain and hanging curtains, creating an atmosphere that is both ethereal and serene.
The pathways connect minimalist geometric water elements, evoking the Eastern poetic imagery of “meandering waters and flowing cups,” beautifully blending traditional courtyard culture with contemporary space.
The architecture combines the artistic essence of traditional Eastern courtyards with inspiration drawn from Western modernist techniques. Spatially, the winding and circular courtyard typologies typical of the Jiangnan region are reinterpreted to be more accessible, clean, and atmospheric.
In terms of craftsmanship, materials and structural details have been meticulously studied. The ‘Jiangnan Courtyard’ is envisioned not only as a lively, smoke-and-willow filled hometown, gentle and prosperous, but also as a serene and historic place that embodies Eastern tradition and refined taste.
Design Drawings:
Basement Floor Plan
First Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan
East-West Facade
North-South Facade
Sectional View
Project Information:
Project Name: Jiangnan Courtyard
Project Type: Architecture, Sales Center
Location: Chongxian New City, Yuhang District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province
Land Area: 40,368 square meters
Building Area: 80,736 square meters
Design & Completion Year: 2018
Designer: PTA Shanghai Botao
Lead Architects: Yao Hui, Xue Jia
Design Team: Zhu Bo, Xu Lei, Shen Houqi, Li Cheng (BIM Engineer), Chen Cheng, Huang Weifeng, Hu Yafen, Luo Zhen
Owners: Lujin Real Estate Shanghai Zhejiang Regional Company, Oceanwide Real Estate
Photographer: © Architecture Photography
Main Materials: Stone, metal roofing, full glass curtain walls
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