The mountains stretch as far as the sky, the forests are dense, and the clouds are sparse. Riding the wind across the Thousand Islands, the scene resembles a fairyland from a distance — Lin Guijia Building.
△ Qiyuan Image © Lin Guijia Building
Mountains and Rivers
True to its name, Qiyuan is a quaint courtyard nestled between mountains and rivers. Located on the hillside of Shanggu Houshan in Wuzhuang Village, Linqi Town, Chun’an County, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, it lies 40 kilometers from Qiandao Lake Town. The project was designed by Shanghai Pingjie Architectural Design Firm.
Chun’an County boasts a rich history, with human activity dating back to the Neolithic Age. The owner, an outgoing gentleman who began his career early and now enjoys motorcycle travel, was captivated by the local mountains and rivers during his journeys with friends. This inspired him to settle here and embrace the landscape.
Wuzhuang Village in the Snow © Qi Yuan
The area experiences a subtropical monsoon climate—warm, humid, and abundant in rainfall. Cool summer breezes and snowy winters characterize the seasons. Locals primarily rely on farming and fishing. Positioned on a mountain with terraced farmland cascading below, the site overlooks a bay of vibrant green lake water, which leads the eye toward dense forested mountains.
This natural and cultural setting creates a picturesque “peach blossom garden” amidst mountains and waters, shaping the architectural, landscape, and interior design’s spirit and tone.
Qiyuan in the Snow © Qi Yuan
△ Buildings, farmland, green water, green mountains © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
Qiyuan comprises three separate buildings arranged linearly, parallel to the landscape. This layout maximizes views from inside toward the surrounding mountains and waters.
Instead of hiding the architecture within dense forests, the design seeks a harmonious dialogue between the built environment and nature. It achieves a subtle dynamic balance among architectural space, the artificial environment, and the natural landscape.
The lake reflects the sky, buildings, and mountains © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
Early morning © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
Su Wu
The main façade resembles a series of large building blocks arranged in a staggered pattern. Different guest room types are distilled into simple blocks, emphasizing an orderly composition.
△ Elevation drawing © Shanghai Pingjie Architectural Design Firm
△ Glimpse of Qiyuan from the dense forest across the river © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
The façade’s variations reflect the different internal functions and the interaction with the surrounding landscape, rather than deliberate gestures. Corridors and platforms between guest room blocks, alongside windows, terraces, and other spaces, naturally create a dense yet orderly façade.
These horizontally arranged buildings of similar height avoid visual clutter. The interplay of light and shadow on plain white walls, reflections from glass, indoor lighting, and vegetation spilling through gaps with the mountain backdrop compose a unique rhythm blending modernist architecture and nature.
△ Facade analysis diagram © Shanghai Pingjie Architectural Design Firm
△ Building Facade and Environment © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
△ Rhythm © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
△ Elevation drawing © Shanghai Pingjie Architectural Design Firm
△ Rear of the building © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
Windows
Windows are arguably the most crucial design element, serving as the intersection between architecture, interior space, and the external environment. They largely determine the building’s form, spirit, and functional layout. Our goal was for every room to welcome natural scenery.
△ Skylights and scenic windows flood rooms with natural views © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
The position, size, and orientation of each window are carefully chosen based on the view it frames. Each window acts as a viewfinder, maximizing the presence of mountains, water, and sky inside the room — a design philosophy we call “letting nature take its course.”
△ Scenic window embracing nature © Shanghai Pingjie Architectural Design Firm
△ Guest room corner © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
While emphasizing the importance of windows, we also aimed to minimize their visual presence. The window frames, glass, and seams are designed to be as unobtrusive as possible.
Details are carefully handled to guide the line of sight naturally, using structures, curtains, and platforms to obscure frames and joints, making them appear “invisible.”
△ Windowless space © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
△ Skylight © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
△ Front yard © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
Rooms
The three-story building contains 15 guest rooms in seven different styles, designed to accommodate diverse groups including parents with children, families, couples, and elderly guests.
△ Room types © Shanghai Pingjie Architectural Design Firm
△ 1st floor plan © Shanghai Pingjie Architectural Design Firm
△ 2nd floor plan © Shanghai Pingjie Architectural Design Firm
△ 3rd floor plan © Shanghai Pingjie Architectural Design Firm
△ Parent-child room © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
The interiors emphasize “lightness” through both material choice and design. Walls feature simple textured coatings, with functional accents in elm wood and rammed earth paint. Furniture follows a minimalist design, highlighting pure geometric beauty.
△ LOFT Room © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
△ Couple’s room © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
Within a unified material palette, each guest room is infused with unique spatial features tailored to its users. Examples include a children’s area within the parent-child room, a starry skylight in the couple’s room, and a multi-level platform design in the family suite that fosters communication and interaction among 4-6 occupants.
△ Family Room © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
△ Parent-child room © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
During the pandemic, Qiyuan has become a sanctuary for young people, motorcycle enthusiasts, paddleboarders, families, and couples seeking a brief escape from urban life. It offers a place to reconnect with nature, find solace, or enjoy weekend summer retreats. In essence, it presents the possibility of an alternative way of life.
At 5 a.m © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
Qiyuan in the Snow © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
△ Paddle enthusiasts © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
The tea field ahead © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
△ Front yard © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
△ Aerial view © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
△ Glimpse of Qiyuan from the dense forest across the river © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
△ Building blocks © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
Early morning © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
△ Family Room © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
△ Parent-child room © Xu Yingda, Huang Di
Project Information
Project Name: Qiyuan: Shanchuan · Suwu · Window
Designer: Shanghai Pingjie Architectural Design Firm
Project Completion Year: January 2022
Lead Architect: Huang Di
Design Team: Wang Yitong, Lin Guijiadong, Xiao Mingfeng, Liu Fengdi, Wu Shenghua
Project Location: Qiandao Lake, Zhejiang
Photography Copyright: Xu Yingda, Huang Di
Partner: Suzhou Redesign
Building Area: 1,163 square meters
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