This rural residence represents a preliminary exploration of a “middle life” concept, balancing the connection between nature and urban living. It aims to embody freedom and the vitality of change.
The village courtyard is nestled between continuous mountain ranges to the north and south, with perennial rivers and expansive fields lying between the village and the northern mountains. The imprint of past generations maintains a fleeting connection to the ancient landscape of mountains, rivers, fields, and villages.
In this northern region, winter sunlight is especially precious, with a local saying about “competing for sunshine” due to the 15-degree northeast orientation. The traditional layout of the main house has been passed down through generations, evolving into a dignified, natural, and elegant style. This design reflects the simple process of community gathering and permanence in village homes. The design team has honored this tradition, carefully considering the main house’s façade and its presence.
Located at the northernmost edge of the village, the site overlooks open farmland, rolling hills, and the setting sun, creating a powerful visual impact. The design team responded with varied roof forms: the master bedroom features a double-sloped herringbone roof, with the northern section lifting and bending to face the farmland, establishing a subtle directional connection. The bathroom’s northern roof curves upward, inviting mountain views inside, while the terrace is sheltered by double-sloping roofs that arch upward on the northern side, creating an expansive feeling. In this way, the architecture becomes the eyes of the landscape, the ears of the environment, and a signaling horn.
The building’s architecture continuously expresses its breadth and intensity in daily life, offering residents a sense of support—connecting spontaneous signals during moments of stable departure and calm wandering.
This project also tells a story of receiving and sending signals. At the edge of the fields lies a fundamental survival need—the pursuit of a direct and affirmative quality, embodying simple presence and absolute stillness.
Project Drawings
▲ General layout plan
▲ Plan view
▲ Sectional perspective
▲ Sectional view
▲ Analysis chart
▲ Analysis chart
Project Information
Architect: Xi ā n Xenon Architecture Studio
Area: 300 m²
Project Year: 2024
Photographer: Summer Solstice, Baihe
Suppliers: Back to 20th, SCHWERT, Yihuida Shimizu Concrete
Lead Architect: Wang Yanshi, Baihe
Design Team: Zhou Mengzheng, Liu Yifeng, Hua Jinrong (interns)
Structural Designer: Zhao Xiaolei
Soft Decoration Design and Implementation Team: Cao Feng team, Back to the 20th Century Antique Furniture Shop & 20C Gallery Collection Level Design Gallery
Civil Construction: Wang Haijiang team
Interior Construction: Jiang Kexiang’s team
Metal Construction: Yu Xiwang team
Client: Haoshan Shanhao / Rural Life Builder
Location: Beijing
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