▲ Aerial view of the buildings
The joint office of Xiake Island Garden Island is a renovation project based on the Chengdu Garden Hotel. Throughout the garden’s evolution, we conducted detailed archaeological excavations to explore its past and present. Our goal was to preserve the traces of its development without erasing its original character. We believe that “improvement” is superior to the “revolution” of large-scale demolition and reconstruction.
▲ Axonometric diagram
▲ Close-up bird’s-eye view
Given the property owner’s limited budget and the requirement to maintain the site’s original layout, we adopted a “minimal intervention” approach. The corridor serves as the fundamental element. We followed the original site path, rebuilding and extending the temporary corridor from the past. This new corridor carefully avoids water bodies, stones, flowers, and trees within the courtyard.
The original hotel lobby was transformed into a tea room, with tea rooms located at both the beginning and end of the corridor. This design creates a courtyard landscape that benefits from its density, winding layout, and scenic views.
▲ Corridor
▲ Tea Room
The corridor is constructed using a lightweight steel structure with slender columns and beams. The floor is coated with dark gray fluorocarbon paint. Using the same material throughout reduces the visual weight, creating a pathway that transcends its physical form.
This corridor carefully avoids all water features, stones, flowers, and trees in the courtyard, resulting in a garden landscape rich in density, scenic variety, and winding paths. Due to the differing rocks, plants, and trees along the route, sections of the corridor have been widened and shaped to form rest nodes. These nodes encourage both “observation in motion” and “observation in stillness,” transforming the ornamental courtyard into a space for sharing, communication, and even emotional connection.
▲ Corridor columns
▲ Water Pavilion
▲ Water Pavilion and Pavilion
▲ Water Pavilion overlooking the Inner Street
▲ Sanzhi Pavilion
▲ San Shan Xie
The Garden Island Courtyard serves as a public co-working space in the form of a “contemporary garden.” Designing a traditional garden was never our original intention. Instead, we aimed to blend everyday life with poetic scenes, reflecting the spirit of classical Chinese gardens. Naturally, this approach results in a similar spatial atmosphere.
(BIM Architecture)
▲ Small theater at night
▲ One Leaf Pavilion at night
(BIM Design)
▲ Inner Street
▲ Lighting fixtures
▲ Plan view
Project Information:
Architectural Firm: Entrance Architectural Studio
Address: Dongfeng Road, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China
Category: Renovation Project
Design Directors: Cai Kefei, Wang Xi
Project Architect: Zhang Xiaoqin
Design Team: Zhang Chunwen, Li Roufeng, Gao Yikuan, Cao Xinyu, Zhu Weikun
Project Year: 2018
Photographer: Existence of Architecture
Owner: Chengdu Xiake Island Enterprise Management Co., Ltd.
Lighting Consultant: Arteluce Lighting Design
Construction: Buerzuo Construction Management Co., Ltd.
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