A quality residential community should go beyond fulfilling basic functional needs; it must be truly people-oriented, catering not only to physical comfort but also to psychological well-being.
What do people really seek from their buildings? Since the Industrial Revolution, architecture has often emphasized materiality, treating houses as mere “living machines.” This industrialized approach shifted design focus away from human-centered principles. Despite modern society’s material abundance, spiritual needs are frequently neglected. The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, psychological, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
This holistic understanding of health forms the foundation for the Luneng Mount Taishan No. 9 All Age Healthy Community. The theme of “health and wellness” permeates every stage of the design—from master planning and spatial layout to interior environments, from environmental atmosphere and façade style to residents’ physical, mental, and social well-being. The project strives to create a utopia that harmoniously blends green ecology with healthy living.
Located in Yangchenghu Town, Xiangcheng District, Suzhou City, the project benefits from abundant natural and cultural resources—”heaven above, Suzhou and Hangzhou below”—which provide a solid foundation for implementing its vision. Positioned as a tourist resort near the high-speed rail new city to the south, Yangcheng Lake offers rare natural assets while maintaining close connectivity to the vibrant urban core. The site borders Shengze Lake, featuring an expansive bay, an extensive shoreline, and high water quality, all of which ensure a premium waterfront environment.
Healthy Space – Experiencing Space
The community clubhouse’s overall design is clean and cohesive, featuring a tall, commanding roof seamlessly integrated with the structure. The roof and walls meet in a folded plate formation, appearing to organically emerge from the ground. The building entrance is minimalist yet grand, with a recessed interior that offers subtle depth. Here, architecture and landscape complement each other to exude a sense of luxury and dignity.
Community Impression: Hotel-Style Drop-Off Area
The clubhouse acts both as a symbol of the “Healthy Home” concept and as the gateway to the residential area. Its innovative traffic flow design transforms the clubhouse into a hotel-style drop-off island, creating a key landscape node that enhances residents’ arrival experience. The façade adopts a modern Chinese architectural style, with elegant folded plate forms accented by blue bricks and grille details. This design seamlessly fuses contemporary elements with the tranquil, health-focused spirit of the community.
Façade Impression: Relaxed and Vibrant New Chinese Style
The façade design draws inspiration from the language and poetic spirit of traditional Chinese architecture, using modern materials and techniques to create a new Chinese style rich in layers and spatial dynamics. The façade harmonizes perfectly with the community’s health and wellness ethos through its light, lively composition and bright color palette. Warm-toned stone conveys quality and character, while the combination of solid walls and elegantly sloping roofs adds relaxed yet vibrant texture—expressing the charm of contemporary Chinese style. The integration of grilles and other fine details further reflects the community’s healthy lifestyle.
Health Package – Spiritual Experience
In Jiangnan’s historic towns, what captivates us is not only the harmonious integration of living spaces with nature, but also the ambiance created by public buildings within the environment. In this project, public buildings act as finishing touches that enrich public spaces and promote a healthier lifestyle.
Mount Taishan Academy: Home of the Heart
Traditionally, academies served not only as places of study but also as retreats nestled in mountains and forests—ideal for philosophical reflection in a unique atmosphere. The Mount Taishan Academy embraces this legacy, fostering philosophical thinking and social connection. It offers book reading, life skills courses, hands-on workshops, and more. By encouraging interaction among residents, it subtly nurtures mental well-being.
Health Club: The Path to Wellness
Sub-health issues have increasingly become a concern in recent years, representing a common challenge for modern society. To address this, the community includes fitness clubs and health management centers. The design of these facilities complements the community’s natural environment, providing residents with spaces that support a healthy lifestyle.
Postscript
After completing the design, the team continuously reflected on their responsibility as designers: Should we be accountable for the health of the people who live in our creations? The answer is a resounding yes.
“Putting people first” is not an empty slogan but the core intention behind good design. Staying true to this principle means combining residential design with the personal life experiences of residents, creating healthier living environments while meeting planning requirements. This should be every designer’s priority.
Project Drawings
▲ First floor plan
▲ Second floor plan
Project Information
Location: Yangchenghu Town, Xiangcheng District, Suzhou
Developer: Suzhou Luneng Guangyu Land Co., Ltd
Architectural Design: Botao Architectural Design (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd
Design Team: Wang Lifeng, Wei Jianguang, Zhu Weiji, Wu Chao, Li Cen, Huang Xu, Yang Sumei, Gao Daning, Hu Junxiong, Lin Pengyu, Xiong Shengyang, Luo Jingya
Design Department: Department 4
Photography: Zhang Xuetao
Building Area: 3,010 square meters
Project Duration: February 2017 – December 2018
Materials: Dark gray aluminum panels, wooden grilles, glass
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