Keeping the trees in the site as an element of the new facade
Photo © Zou Bin
Architecture facade, the new addition of wooden bamboo skin, giving the original building a new temperament
Photo © Zou Bin
The building façade in the winter
Photo © He Wei
The building façade in the winter-detail
Photo © He Wei
The front porch, a semi-exterior space, guiding people to enter the building
Photo © Zou Bin
The front porch, transformed from the existing roadside green
Photo © He Wei
The light and shadow in the front porch
Photo © He Wei
The shadows of the trees fall on the wall in the front porch, forming a traditional Chinese space
Photo © He Wei
The entrance lobby
Photo © Zou Bin
Back porch, the traffic space is deliberately stretched
Photo © Zou Bin
Back porch, light illuminated through the glass, making the space has the shadow of spirituality
Photo © He Wei
Back porch
Photo © He Wei
Back porch, the way to the entrance hall of the second floor
Photo © Zou Bin
Refraction and reflection, mottled light and shadow
Photo © He Wei
The entrance hall of the second floor
Photo © Zou Bin
The gathering space, self-luminous walls provide the warm yellow lighting
Photo © Zou Bin
The gathering space
Photo © Zou Bin
Meditation room
Photo © Zou Bin
Excessive space between the gathering space and large teahouse
Photo © Zou Bin
Excessive space between the gathering space and large teahouse
Photo © He Wei
The large teahouse on the second floor, a bright space to overlook the courtyard
Photo © Zou Bin
To see the corridor from the courtyard
Photo © He Wei
The courtyard
Photo © He Wei
Overlooking the courtyard from the large teahouse, the skyline of the new built back porch and the building have several levels
Photo © He Wei
White walls, black bricks, tree shadows
Photo © He Wei
Overlooking the courtyard from the roof terrace
Photo © He Wei
To see the renovated building from the road
Photo © Zou Bin
The night view of the facade, the inner light creates the feeling of tranquility
Photo © Zou Bin
The night view of the front porch
Photo © Zou Bin
The night view of the courtyard
Photo © Zou Bin
The tree kept deliberately, The round hole formed a unique scenery
Photo © He Wei
Detail of the courtyard
Photo © He Wei
Façade detail of the entrance
Photo © He Wei
Back porch, glass roof and grille form rich light and shade
Photo © Zou Bin
Ground floor plan
Second floor plan
Third floor plan
Sketch-1
Drawing © He Wei
Sketch-2
Drawing © He Wei
Perspective section east-west
Drawing © 3andwich
Circulation
Drawing © 3andwich
Plans before renovation
Drawing © 3andwich
Perspectivesection north-south
Drawing © 3andwich
Volume analysis
Drawing © 3andwich

Ding Hui Yuan Zen & Tea Chamber

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Location
Beijing, China
Year
2016
Client
Better Lift Art Club Co. Ltd
Team
He Wei, Chen Long, Wang Qi, Zhao Zhuo-Ran
Contractor
Beijing GHLH Construction CO., LTD
Lighting design
Zhang Xin, Han Xiao-Wei, Zhou Xuan-Yu
Special adviser
Xue Xiao-Ming, Zhang Yi-Cheng

This is a factory renovation project. Rebuilt into an office in its latest renovation, the old factory experienced several times of renovation after its construction in 1970s. Unlike other factories with large space, the factory doesn’t have a big space span while the height is normal showing no special features. However, a 100 square meters backyard is quite impressive. Based on the owner’s requirement, designers need to reconstruct it into a Zen Chamber.

As a Zen Chamber, it should have the Eastern spirit and ancient concept. Certainly, the ancient concept is not a simple display of traditional symbols. This design wishes to convey the essence of the Chinese private gardens, such as “seeing a bigger picture from small matters” and “the path winds through high peaks”.

The core of the design is restructuring the circulation of the space. Designers gave up the simple layout of the existing circulation space with hanging stairs directly attached to its entrance. The design creates a longer circulation for people to calm down when entering the main space in the philosophy of Zen Tea. An extra-long, zigzag path is made: people can enter the building from the west side after passing through a long and narrow semi-outdoor corridor. They will enter the backyard after turning to the north and walking through the entire Zen Chamber.

Architect added a folded stairs in this area, located between the long ramp and paralleled stairs. People will see the inner courtyard and a big tearoom through the grating racks while stepping up the stairs. Then they can reach to the second floor through a long, narrow, and closed space. The second floor is served as the main public space of the building, including a Guqin (a representative instrument of traditional Chinese musical culture) room, small tearooms, meditation room and a large tearoom.

The changing rhythm of the brightness is another key of renovation. Around the inner court, the newly created space changes its appearance between the natural light and the artificial light arranging the transparent, semi-transparent and close-up visual effects. After entering the building, people could enjoy the courtyard in different time and different perspectives, and vice versa, which is also a practice of sampling the Chinese garden.

This is a factory renovation project. As a Zen Chamber, it should represent the Eastern spirit and traditional concept, proposing to convey the essence of the Chinese private gardens.

The core of the design is to restructure the circulation. To calm down when entering the main space in the philosophy of Zen Tea, an extra-long, zigzag path is made: people can enter the building from the west side after passing through a long and narrow semi-outdoor corridor. They will enter the backyard after turning to the north and walking through the entire Zen Chamber.

Architect added a folded stairs in this area, which located between the long ramp and paralleled stairs, through which the visitors can reach to the second floor. The second floor is served as the main public space of the building, including small tearooms, meditation rooms and a large tearoom.

The changing rhythm of the brightness is another key of renovation. Around the inner court, the newly created space changes its appearance between the natural light and the artificial light arranging the transparent, semi-transparent and close-up visual effects, which is also a practice of sampling the Chinese garden.

Project name: Ding Hui Yuan Zen & Tea Chamber
Location: Beijing, China
Client: Better Lift Art Club Co., Ltd
Principle architect: He Wei
Architecture and Interior design team: Chen Long, Wang Qi, Zhao Zhuo-Ran
Lighting design team: Zhang Xin, Han Xiao-Wei, Zhou Xuan-Yu
Special adviser: Xue Xiao-Ming, Zhang Yi-Cheng
Contractor: Beijing GHLH Construction CO., LTD
Land area: 300 sqm
Construction area: 450 sqm
Design time: 2014-2015
Construction time: 2015-2016.01
Photographer: Zou Bin, He Wei

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