view of the 【backyard 】from the outside. Image © Lu Fei

从外面看到[后院]。形象陆飞

建筑师提供的文字说明。位于北京西北的后院，坐落在百花剑自然景色的山麓，是典型的北京三段式建筑群，矗立在传统的乡村建筑综合体中。在铁轨以西，有一百英亩的采摘花园，延伸到山坡上。

Text description provided by the architects. The backyard, located in northwest of Beijing, seated at the foothills of Baihujian natural scenery, is a typical Beijing three-section compound which stands in a traditional village architecture complex. There is a hundred acre picking garden right beside the west of the rail, which extends to the hillside.

Text description provided by the architects. The backyard, located in northwest of Beijing, seated at the foothills of Baihujian natural scenery, is a typical Beijing three-section compound which stands in a traditional village architecture complex. There is a hundred acre picking garden right beside the west of the rail, which extends to the hillside.

 Bird-view plan of spatial relationships－Before

空间关系的鸟瞰图.前

 Bird-view plan of spatial relationships-After

空间关系的鸟瞰图.后

最初的院子建于1983年，由三座房屋组成，一座朝北，另两座朝东、西方向。入口原来是朝南的。每个空间之间的关系就像传统北京庭院的简化版，那里的面积似乎很大，但实际上大部分都是未使用的空间。为了容纳三个家庭或10个人群体，整个建筑由设计师改造.

Built in 1983, the original yard was comprised of three houses, one facing north, the other two, respectively, orientated in an east west direction. The entrance was originally situated toward south. The relationships of each space were like simplified version of traditional Beijing courtyard where the areas appeared to be large but most of them were actually unused spaces. Aimed at accommodate three families or 10 person-group, the whole building was reconstructed by designer. 

Built in 1983, the original yard was comprised of three houses, one facing north, the other two, respectively, orientated in an east west direction. The entrance was originally situated toward south. The relationships of each space were like simplified version of traditional Beijing courtyard where the areas appeared to be large but most of them were actually unused spaces. Aimed at accommodate three families or 10 person-group, the whole building was reconstructed by designer. 

 east elevation/surrounding mountain views

东海拔/周围山景

首先，我们预订了原来的北房，拆除了东侧和西侧的房间.燕山山脉的主峰过去是看不见的，只能从屋顶的山脊上看到，现在可以从后院的西侧看到。

Firstly, we reserved the original north room and tore down the east and west wing-rooms. The main peak of Yanshan mountain ranges, which was used to be invisible and could only be seen through the ridge of the roof, now can be appreciated from the west side of the backyard.

Firstly, we reserved the original north room and tore down the east and west wing-rooms. The main peak of Yanshan mountain ranges, which was used to be invisible and could only be seen through the ridge of the roof, now can be appreciated from the west side of the backyard.

 The Entrance After Reconstruction/Night. Image © Lu Fei

重建后的入口处/夜晚。形象陆飞

当地居民住在院子的西侧。为了获得相对较宽的西山景观，同时保持私密性，其开口朝向东方，设计成U型。

The local residents living on the west side of the yard. In order to get a relatively broader view of the West Mountain and preserve the privacy meanwhile, its opening was set toward east and designed to be an U-shape.

The local residents living on the west side of the yard. In order to get a relatively broader view of the West Mountain and preserve the privacy meanwhile, its opening was set toward east and designed to be an U-shape.

 Master Plan After Reconstruction

重建后的总体规划

为了捕捉日出，大面积的窗户被设计为东面的立面，以确保白天的第一束光线一定会照进宽敞的客厅。建筑的高低形态反映了新旧建筑的比较，也暗示了西山起伏的关系。(鼓掌)

With the purpose of catching sunrise, large areas of windows were designed for the east elevation to ensure that the day’s first light would definitely shine into the capacious living room. The high-low form of the architecture reflects the comparison between new and old， and also alludes the relationship of rolling hills of the west mountain.  

With the purpose of catching sunrise, large areas of windows were designed for the east elevation to ensure that the day’s first light would definitely shine into the capacious living room. The high-low form of the architecture reflects the comparison between new and old， and also alludes the relationship of rolling hills of the west mountain.  

 Comparison between New Living room and Original north Room. Image © Lu Fei

新起居室与原北房的比较。形象陆飞

原址的北楼高约7米，墙上漆成黄色.为了避免令人尴尬的日常眼神交流和满足功能的需要，新建的6.5米高的南方建筑将成为公共区域。

The north building of original site was about 7-meter-high, with wall painted in yellow. To avoid embarrassing daily eye contact and to meet the needs of the function, the newly-built, 6.5-meter-high building in south will become public area.

The north building of original site was about 7-meter-high, with wall painted in yellow. To avoid embarrassing daily eye contact and to meet the needs of the function, the newly-built, 6.5-meter-high building in south will become public area.

 Sunlight analysis/ Winter Solstice + Summer Solstice

阳光分析/冬至夏至

 Sunlight analysis/ Winter Solstice + Summer Solstice

阳光分析/冬至夏至

同时，为了引入自然照明，防止来自小巷的噪音，在计算全年阳光高度后，设计师设计了高窗户和天窗，以确保4.5米宽的院子全年都能享受到自然光。

Meanwhile, to bring in the nature lighting and keep off noise coming from the alley, after calculating the year-round sunlight altitude, the designer has designed high window and sunroof to ensure that 4.5 meter-wide yard can enjoy the nature light across whole year.

Meanwhile, to bring in the nature lighting and keep off noise coming from the alley, after calculating the year-round sunlight altitude, the designer has designed high window and sunroof to ensure that 4.5 meter-wide yard can enjoy the nature light across whole year.

进入后院

Into The Backyard

Into The Backyard

由于四合院不是一个完整的四合院住宅，设计师主要集中在营造庭院的氛围上，顾客看不到任何其他建筑在他们的视线之外，这是整个设计过程中的逻辑所在。即使建立了一个大面积的窗口，客户的隐私绝对可以得到保证。

Since the courtyard is not an intact quadrangle dwelling, designer mainly focused on creating the atmosphere of the yard, customers cannot see any other architecture out of their sight and this is the logical throughout the whole design process. Even though a large area of window were built up, customers’ privacy could absolutely be ensured. 

Since the courtyard is not an intact quadrangle dwelling, designer mainly focused on creating the atmosphere of the yard, customers cannot see any other architecture out of their sight and this is the logical throughout the whole design process. Even though a large area of window were built up, customers’ privacy could absolutely be ensured. 

餐厅是南北间、新旧空间的结合。当四扇玻璃门完全打开时，与餐厅相连的室外平台形成了一个新空间，使餐室比以前大了一倍，因此平台也可以作为餐厅的一部分。

The dinning room is the combination of South and north room, old and new spaces. When the four glass doors fully opened, the outdoor platform that connected with the dinning room together formed a new space and made the dinning room as twice larger as it used to be, therefore, the platform can be used as a part of the dinning room as well.

The dinning room is the combination of South and north room, old and new spaces. When the four glass doors fully opened, the outdoor platform that connected with the dinning room together formed a new space and made the dinning room as twice larger as it used to be, therefore, the platform can be used as a part of the dinning room as well.

 hawthorn tree planted in the east side of the backyard. Image © Lu Fei

山楂树种在后院的东边。形象陆飞

这个巨大的窗口被设计用来连接室外和室内空间，从而使这两个区域之间的交互和交流成为可能。

The huge window is designed to connect outdoor and indoor space, and thus enable interactions and communications occurred between these two areas.

The huge window is designed to connect outdoor and indoor space, and thus enable interactions and communications occurred between these two areas.

院子的东边种着一棵山楂树。这棵树是由院子的主人拥有的，它纪念了许多关于院子的珍贵记忆。它也是U形洞口和主入口的景观节点.

There is a hawthorn tree planted in the east of the yard. Owned by the yard’s host, the tree commemorated so many precious memories of the yard. It is also the landscape node of the U-shape opening and main entrance.

There is a hawthorn tree planted in the east of the yard. Owned by the yard’s host, the tree commemorated so many precious memories of the yard. It is also the landscape node of the U-shape opening and main entrance.

 Rhythms Of The Red Brick. Image © Lu Fei

红砖的节奏。形象陆飞

新起居室

The New Living Room

The New Living Room

整个北屋可以透过大透明的窗户，与无尽的山脉，建筑景观和星夜相结合，共同构成了客厅前的美好形象。设计师创造了一个场景，人们可以通过“新建”的房子“看到”老景致。

The entire north house can be viewed through the big-transparent window, combined with endless mountains, architecture landscape and starry night, together made up a wonderful image in front of the living room. Designer created a scene that people could “view”old sceneries through the“newly” constructed house. 

The entire north house can be viewed through the big-transparent window, combined with endless mountains, architecture landscape and starry night, together made up a wonderful image in front of the living room. Designer created a scene that people could “view”old sceneries through the“newly” constructed house. 

 Side Elevation Of The New Living Room. Image © Lu Fei

新起居室的侧面立面。形象陆飞

客厅的高度是6.2米。为了加强家庭成员与团体成员之间的互动，设计师创造了一个沉陷的空间，“月夜谈话”的场景总是发生在那里。

The height of the living room is 6.2 meter. In order to strengthen the interaction between family/group members, designer created a sunken space where the scene of“lunar night talk”can always happen there. 

The height of the living room is 6.2 meter. In order to strengthen the interaction between family/group members, designer created a sunken space where the scene of“lunar night talk”can always happen there. 

 Stove area of the new living room . Image © Lu Fei

新客厅的灶区。形象（三）陆飞

楼梯是用香椿树从旧院子里做成的。沿着螺旋楼梯走到二楼，然后人们可以到达茶室和Tatami区。在白天观赏西山的时候，有茶品尝活动，在星空下睡觉，整晚都在说话，一定会给所有顾客带来一个难忘的夜晚。

The stairs are made of toon tree timber from the old yard. Walk along the spiral stairs up to the second floor, people then can get to the tearoom and tatami area. Having tea-tasting activities while viewing west mountain during the daytime, sleeping under the starry sky and having long talks all night, surely the experience will create a memorable night for all the customers. 

The stairs are made of toon tree timber from the old yard. Walk along the spiral stairs up to the second floor, people then can get to the tearoom and tatami area. Having tea-tasting activities while viewing west mountain during the daytime, sleeping under the starry sky and having long talks all night, surely the experience will create a memorable night for all the customers. 

过去/旧-北楼

Past/Old-North House

Past/Old-North House

在重新设置了北部老房子的功能后，入口处在进入卧室前形成了一个“灰色空间”。通过三个垂直轴的门进入房子，冷空气是完全分开的，居民在进入卧室之前可以做好充分的准备。当所有的门都打开时，入口空间通过与室外平台的结合再次放大。入口处的大门顶部有两扇高高的窗户，这既保护了院子的隐私，又使两个浴室获得了自然的阳光。

After resetting the function of the old house in the north part, the entrance area formed a “grey space” before getting into the bedrooms. Going into the house through three vertical axis doors, the cold air is completely separated and residents could fully prepared before getting into the bedrooms. While all of the doors are opened, entrance space is amplified again by combining with the outdoor platform. The entrance area has two high windows on the top of the doors, which keep the yard’s privacy and at the same time enables the two bathrooms to get the nature sunlight.

After resetting the function of the old house in the north part, the entrance area formed a “grey space” before getting into the bedrooms. Going into the house through three vertical axis doors, the cold air is completely separated and residents could fully prepared before getting into the bedrooms. While all of the doors are opened, entrance space is amplified again by combining with the outdoor platform. The entrance area has two high windows on the top of the doors, which keep the yard’s privacy and at the same time enables the two bathrooms to get the nature sunlight.

 Space changes of the old-north House. Image © Lu Fei

旧北院的空间变化。形象陆飞

设计师修复了两间卧室的墙壁，用水泥掉落处理给它一种新的朴素感。因为房子的主人是摄影爱好者，所以墙上挂着记录新后院建筑的照片。作为一种新旧空间的装饰，这些图片也可以给居民们展示一个相关的故事，供他们回忆。

Designer repaired the walls of the two bedrooms, used cement falling treatment to give it a new plain feeling. Since the house’s owner is a photographic lover, pictures that recorded the construction of the new backyard are hanged on the walls. As a decoration of old and new space, those pictures are also able to show a related story for the residents to be remind of.

Designer repaired the walls of the two bedrooms, used cement falling treatment to give it a new plain feeling. Since the house’s owner is a photographic lover, pictures that recorded the construction of the new backyard are hanged on the walls. As a decoration of old and new space, those pictures are also able to show a related story for the residents to be remind of.

在对顾客行为进行心理分析后，在两间卧室的布置中，设计师缩小了床的面积，扩大了浴室的面积，从而得到了动态空间，增加了宽敞的触觉。另一个细节是浴室没有门，这保证了卧室内的放松和连接。

After psychologically analyzing customer’s behavior, in the layout of the two bedrooms, designer reduced the bed’s area, enlarged the bathroom’s area, and therefore get the dynamic space adds capacious touch. Another detail is that the bathroom doesn’t have any doors, which ensures the relaxation and connection inside the bedroom.

After psychologically analyzing customer’s behavior, in the layout of the two bedrooms, designer reduced the bed’s area, enlarged the bathroom’s area, and therefore get the dynamic space adds capacious touch. Another detail is that the bathroom doesn’t have any doors, which ensures the relaxation and connection inside the bedroom.

 details of doors and windows. Image © Lu Fei

门窗细节。形象陆飞

LED条纹灯的设置是为了塑造屋顶的山脊，同时为新建的北房提供照明。

Led stripe lights were setting up in order to shape the ridges of the roof, and at the same time provide illumination for the newly constructed north room.

Led stripe lights were setting up in order to shape the ridges of the roof, and at the same time provide illumination for the newly constructed north room.

 Details of illumination of the old-north house. Image © Lu Fei

北方老房子的照明细节。形象陆飞

由于后院的主人是葡萄酒爱好者，在旧锅炉房的位置设计了一个酒巴，因此形成了一个小的互动酒吧。

For the reason that the backyard’s host is a wine lover, a wine bar has been designed at the position of the old boiler room, and thus formed a small bar of interaction.

For the reason that the backyard’s host is a wine lover, a wine bar has been designed at the position of the old boiler room, and thus formed a small bar of interaction.

 wine bar. Image © Lu Fei

酒吧。形象陆飞

有一天，我们真的很忙，但仍然痴迷于名望，希望在大自然中。我们的居住地藏在摩天大楼里，但我们仍然梦想着在家乡有一个带后院的温暖的房子。后院建筑是中国传统农舍改造的一个范例，希望本设计能为自然环境提供一种沟通的方式，帮助空间回归到最直接的功能，从田园的能量中重生。

One day, we are really busy but still being obsessed with fame, hoping to be inside of the nature. Our living place is hidden in the skyscrapers, but we still have the dream about a warm house in our hometown with a backyard. Construction of Backyard is a sample of renovation in the traditional Chinese farm house, and we hope this design can provide a communication method for a natural environment, helping the space to return to the most straight forward function, reborn from the energy of field. 

One day, we are really busy but still being obsessed with fame, hoping to be inside of the nature. Our living place is hidden in the skyscrapers, but we still have the dream about a warm house in our hometown with a backyard. Construction of Backyard is a sample of renovation in the traditional Chinese farm house, and we hope this design can provide a communication method for a natural environment, helping the space to return to the most straight forward function, reborn from the energy of field. 

 panorama of the new living room. Image © Lu Fei

新客厅的全景。形象陆飞

Architects CCDI

Location China

Creative Design Li Zhiyu

Project Planning Zhang Peng, Xu Wenfeng

Area 200.0 m2

Project Year 2016

Photographs Lu Fei

Category Houses