Zangxu Village Residential Community

Designed by Wang Architects in collaboration with Ming Design Studio, the rural housing estate accommodating 300 households is located in the 1,400-year-old Yaowan Town, an ancient town originally built in the early Tang Dynasty, adjacent to the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. At present, there are still more than 800 ancient buildings built in Ming and Qing Dynasties. 

The local architectural characters are simple and elegant with traditional grey bricks and black tiles. The sloping roofs are designed to be stretched and connected, which is inspired by the nearby waterscapes and the beautiful picture of the harmonious integration of local architecture and environment.

The design of this project follows the architectural language of the ancient town of Yaowan, reflects the local culture, and integrates into the important geographical context of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. Benefiting from the local culture, history and the unique kiln-burning industry, the design fully considers the local long-standing historical and cultural heritage and strives to recreate a modern living environment, aiming to form a suitable regional style with applications of local materials. The hollow decorative facades of the courtyard walls are inspired by the profiles of the ancient brick wall. The sunlight and shadows project rational geometric beauty into the courtyard spaces and regenerate a feel of the ancient brick wall with silhouettes. Additionally, bricks are commonly found in the local area, which are used for the houses and the courtyard walls, reflecting the style of the ancient town of Yaowan.