架构师提供的文本描述。旧北京的胡同被认为是一个真正的城区。位于二环内，这个平坦而密集的迷宫般的小巷和庭院被20米宽的高架高速公路、不断扩张的摩天大楼和现代街区所包围。小实验室位于东城区北部，靠近熙熙攘攘的北洛姑乡。四合院(四合院)、租房场(扎园)、四到六层的老民居、零散的商店构成了整个街区。北京街道的布局通常是竖直的和正方形的，而小巷的宽度则减少到3至5米，甚至更窄。胡同小巷的曲折是人类尺度及其相互作用的自然结果，是城市的尺度和脉。

Text description provided by the architects. Hutongs of the old Beijing are deemed as an authentic urban zone. Located within the second ring, this flat and intensive maze of alleyways and courtyards is surrounded by 20-metre-wide elevated expressways, ever-expanding skyscrapers and modern blocks. MINOR lab is situated in north Dongcheng District, close to the bustling Beiluogu Xiang. Quadrangle courtyards (Siheyuan), tenement yards(Zayuan), old residences of 4 to 6 storeys and scattered stores constitute the entire neighborhood. The layout of streets in Beijing are normally upright and square, whereas the width of alleyways reduces to 3 to 5 metres or an even narrower scale. The zigzag of Hutong lanes appears naturally due to human scale and their interactions, as the measurement and vein of the city.

 courtyard view. Image © Hao Chen

庭院景观。形象名：郝晨

早上和去演播室的路上，一旦从主要街道转到胡同，我们就会看到一个平淡而又热闹的景象：邻居们拿着篮子从小贩那里买东西，交通缓慢地在一条繁忙的小巷里行驶。空气中的气味也很熟悉：厨房做饭、早餐摊、公共厕所和季节性湿度…。至于声音，同样生动：邻居聊天，小贩卖东西，乘客争论…不同的方言、沙沙作响的树叶、鸣叫的鸟儿和昆虫组成了一首有趣的交响曲。

In the morning and on the way to the studio, once turning into the Hutong from the main street, we would be welcome by a quotidian yet lively scene: neighbors with baskets shopping from peddlers and a slow traffic moving through a busy lane. The scent in the air smells familiar too: home cooking in the kitchen, breakfast stalls, public restrooms and seasonal humidity… As for the sound, it is equally vivid: neighbors’ chatting, peddlers’selling stuffs, passengers’ arguing…Different dialects, rustling leaves, singling birds and insects compose an intriguing symphony.

 courtyard view from south to north. Image © Hao Chen

从南到北的庭院景观。形象名：郝晨

改造成小型实验室的庭院是一个13.5米宽9.5米的长方形场地。当木门被推开时，一个由灰色砖墙包围的方形空间出现了。院子里矗立着两棵巨大的银杏树-在树下和屋顶上创造了一个独特的空间，宁静却依然沉浸在胡同的节拍中。我们在2017年夏天偶然看到这个院子，当时房东正在重建木结构、灰色砖墙和灰色屋顶瓦。经过几轮的交流，我们决定租用，重新设计和改造整个院子，这样我们才能扎根，建立我们自己的建筑世界。

The courtyard that has been transformed to MINOR lab is a 13.5 by 9.5 metres rectangular site. When the wooden door is pushed open, a square space enclosed by grey brick walls presents itself. Two grand ginkgo trees stand in the yard – a unique space is created underneath the trees and on the rooftop, tranquil yet still immersed in the beats of Hutong. We came across this courtyard in the summer of 2017; back then, the landlord was reconstructing the wooden structure, grey brick walls and grey roof tiles. After rounds of communication, we decided to rent, redesign and transform the whole yard so that we could take root and build our own world of making architecture.

 Courtesy of MINOR lab

由小型实验室提供

 courtyard and guestroom (door opened). Image © Hao Chen

庭院和客房(门开了)。形象名：郝晨

从历史上讲，从历史上讲，北京作为帝国城市，是在帝国主义化的核心基础上建立起来的。轴线、故宫甚至红城城墙都代表着皇权的绝对存在。在这种复杂的权力和功能体制内，胡同逐渐形成，成为大众的场所。胡同两侧的四合院庭院是彼此相邻的。在墙的后面，每个庭院都有一个特殊的家庭空间；当它们被墙齐齐时，所有的庭院都开始共存，共同生活在北京唯一的性情之上。

Communicate via architecture Historically speaking, Beijing as an imperial city, has been established on the core basis of imperialization. The axes, Forbidden City and even the red city walls represented the absolute existence of imperial authority. Within such a complex institution of power and functionalities, Hutongs took shape gradually and became venues for the mass. Quadrangle courtyards on both sides of Hutongs were neighbors to each other. Behind the walls, every courtyard stood for a particular family space; and when they were aligned together by walls, all of them started to coexist and co-live on top of Beijing’s unique disposition.

 view from office space to courtyard. Image © Hao Chen

从办公空间到庭院的视野。形象名：郝晨

在现代化进程中，秩序的崩溃和重建引发了北京胡同和四合院的巨大变革。因此，在动荡之后，人口统计、人口密度和社会结构使四合院的定义具有挑战性。胡同的轮廓被保留了下来，但胡同院墙后面的风景却在不断的撕毁和重建中支离破碎。

In the course of modernization, the collapse and reconstruction of order has triggered massive changes to Hutongs and quadrangle courtyards in Beijing. As a result, after the upheaval, demographics, population density and the social structure have made it challenging to define quadrangle courtyards. The outline of Hutongs has been retained, however, the scenic substances behind the walls of Hutong courtyards have been fragmented in constant tearing down and reconstruction.

 café library space. Image © Hao Chen

咖啡馆图书馆空间。形象名：郝晨

对胡同人来说，无论是在城内还是在城外，都没有改变的是，社会仍在以一种永恒的方式过着他们的生活，坚持着他们的生活方式。然而，对于我们来说，我们利用建筑工作室的形式开辟了一个庭院，抹掉了边界，创造了胡同的交流空间。

What has not changed for Hutongs, whether it is within or outside the walls, is that the community is still living their lives and sticking to their lifestyle in a timeless manner. Yet for us, we leverage the form of an architectural studio to open up a courtyard, wipe away the boundaries, and create a space for communication in Hutongs.

 office space. Image © Hao Chen

办公室空间。形象名：郝晨

 office space. Image © Hao Chen

办公室空间。形象名：郝晨

胡同两旁的屋顶墙下流淌的生命阻止阳光直射进来，这可以看作是公共和私人场地之间的分界线。在墙内仍然是一个内封闭的空间，然而，院子像一个巨大的容器，让天空，风，阳光，空气和声音。两棵巨大的银杏树的顶冠是露天流动的屋顶，层层重叠的灰色瓷砖。树下的外部空间连接到四个屋顶下的内部空间，不断地漂浮和交换。

Flowing life under the roof Walls on either side of the Hutong prevent direct sunlight from getting inside, which can be seen as a boundary between public and private venues. Within the walls remains an inward and enclosed space, however, the yard resembles a vast container, letting in sky, wind, sunlight, air and sound. The crowns of the two grand ginkgo trees are the flowing roof in the open air, overlapping layers of grey tiles. The exterior space under the trees connects to the interior one underneath the four roofs, floating and exchanging in a continuous way.

 courtyard view. Image © Hao Chen

庭院景观。形象名：郝晨

院子北侧的主要房间是办公空间，是最大的室内空间。把自己和院子连接起来的是一片透明的空间，而不仅仅是一个表面。这个虚拟空间是由金属薄壁、透明玻璃和厚丙烯酸板组成的。从庭院入口处起，一扇橱窗、一扇推拉门和一个半室外透明的展览空间整齐有序地出现。外观展示了几种经过加工的金属材料的反射和扩散反射，以及丙烯酸板和玻璃相对不同程度的透明度。不仅表面传输足够的日光，而且条形空间作为光的载体发挥作用。它反映了室内和室外的景色，模糊了这两个空间之间的界限-日光和视野水平延伸，室内工作感觉就像坐在树下。

The main room in the north of the courtyard is the office space, the biggest indoor space. What connects itself and the yard is a transparent strip of space, instead of a mere façade. This virtual space is made of a metal thin wall, transparent glass and thick acrylic boards. From the entrance of the courtyard, a showcase window, a sliding door and a semi-outdoor and transparent exhibition space appear in proper order. The façade demonstrates reflections and diffused reflections of several processed metal materials, as well as different degrees of transparency relatively by acrylic boards and glass. Not only the façade transmits enough daylight, but also the strip space functions as a carrier of light. It mirrors indoor and outdoor views, blurs the boundary between the two spaces – daylight and views extend horizontally and working indoors feels like sitting under the trees.

 view from café library to guestroom. Image © Hao Chen

从咖啡厅到客房的视野。形象名：郝晨

 view from courtyard to entrance (daytime). Image © Hao Chen

从庭院到入口处的景色(白天)。形象名：郝晨

半户外展览空间与院子分开，用13块25毫米厚的亚克力板，以倾斜但平行的方式放置。在700毫米宽的空间里，人们可以感受到微风、光线和阴影、水晶的存在和板的微妙反射。空间是清晰而透明的，实际上，它本身就是一个展览。除了展示模型外，它还不时举办展览。

The semi-outdoor exhibition space is separated from the yard with 13 25-millimetre-thick acrylic boards, placed in an inclined yet parallel manner. Within the 700-millimetre-wide space, one may feel the breeze, the light and shadow, the crystal presence and subtle reflection of the boards. The space is clear and transparent; actually, it is an exhibit itself. Apart from displaying models, it also holds exhibitions from time to time.

 guestroom. Image © Hao Chen

客房。形象名：郝晨

院子的另一边有一间客房(东)、一间浴室(东南)、一间厨房(西南)、一间咖啡馆/迷你图书馆(西)。在有限的庭院空间，我们有一个轻和半透明的界面，由钢框架，玻璃和聚碳酸酯面板。它结合功能空间，使过道延伸到庭院空间，通过半透明的界面或玻璃滑动门渗透有限的室内空间。我们使用的聚碳酸酯面板保证了适当的隐私和隔热，并软化了室内自然光线。它也随着阳光和阴影的变化而改变室内场景。

The other side of the courtyard houses a guest room (East), a bathroom (Southeast), a kitchen (Southwest), a café/mini-library (West). In the limited courtyard space, we have modestly imbedded a light and translucent interface made of steel frame, glass and polycarbonate panel. It combines the functional spaces and makes the aisle an extension to the courtyard space, which permeates the limited indoor space through the translucent interface or glass sliding door. The polycarbonate panel we have used guarantees proper privacy and thermal insulation, and softens the natural light indoor. It also varies the indoor scene with the changing sunlight and shade.

 view from kitchen to courtyard and café library. Image © Hao Chen

从厨房到庭院和咖啡厅图书馆。形象名：郝晨

在使用上，它不仅仅是一个日常工作的工作室。通过举办周末的公共活动和展览，邀请艺术家过来，我们将与城市共享庭院空间。在这个过程中，我们学会了保留庭院的独占记忆。

In terms of usage, it is much more than just a studio for daily work. By hosting weekend public events and exhibition and inviting artist over, we are sharing the courtyard space with the city. During this process, we learn to keep exclusive memories of the courtyard.

 brunch activity. Image © Dan Zhao

早午餐活动。图像(丹照)

生命的实验室

The lab of life & an organic city of people, objects and nature We have chosen some common materials and leveraged simple craftsmanship in Hutongs. In this way, we have tried to harmonize new things and the initial scene and to create some new meanings. The birth of architecture or the evolution of a city is backed by a well-defined infrastructure. Rather than just a workplace, this courtyard serves as a laboratory for us. We treat every object, tool, plant and little animal with curiosity while working, exchanging, cooking, resting and walking around. By doing this, we are discovering how to place and interact with them properly. We are gradually learning how to create our own approach under the roof, and interpret it in our works and even conversations. These nuanced practices and observations are part of the architecture, and also clues depicting the memory of a city.

 the original condition before rebuilt. Image © Xiangyu Zhang

重建前的原始状态。张向宇

Architects MINOR lab

Location Dongcheng District, Beijing, China

Lead Architects Chen Liu, Yi-chi Wang, Ping-chen Yeh

Area 115.0 m2

Project Year 2017

Photographs Hao Chen, Yichi Wang, Xiangyu Zhang, Masa, Dan Zhao

Category Renovation

Manufacturers Loading...