Peaceful retreat displays best of natural elements

By Yang Di  |   2009-8-16  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

THE Beijing-based architect Wang Hui can't resist the siren call of a peaceful countryside retreat. So when helping a property developer couple design Villa Shizilin in the heart of Changping District, not far from the ancient Ming Tombs, the architect also built up his own private enclave.

When he first visited this site, it had almost no functional space. Instead, there was a 20-hectare area flanked with persimmon trees and entered through wrought-iron gates that offered little privacy.

With only six months to do the work, the architect set out to create a modernist house in splendid isolation from the pulsating drive of city life, a Zen-like atmosphere to come home to.

Focusing his attention on the view, Wang opted for huge floor-to-ceiling windows instead of walls, exposing the interior to the outside elements. The result blends in with the lush trees and mountain views, totally in sync with its rural surroundings.

"This site embodied everything I wanted. It had to be one level, and I didn't want the inside to be separate from the outdoors," he said. "I like to create homes that play up a locale's natural features, thus the property's best feature was to be the connection to the outdoors.''

Modest in scale, the 144-square-meter glass-walled house resembles a freestanding glass cube, surrounded by stretches of grassland. Its rigid geometry and grey-and-white color scheme contrast with the surrounding swell of greenery, but at the same time mesh with the environment because the glass panes reflect the landscape.

The window walls on four sides do more than simply admit light. In winter, they allow the sun to warm the building. In summer, when the sun is high in the sky, the overhang keeps the windows in the shade. Also, the expansive windows he chose make the rooms feel more airy and blur the division between inside and outside.

"The fact that the house is open to nature is important,'' Wang said. "When people are inside it is important that they do not feel inside.''

The house bends itself around nature - incorporating existing persimmon trees into its structure by enclosing them in the internal courtyard. In this location there are many existing trees so the architect had to design the building to create gaps so that the natural elements and the building could meet.

The entrance to Wang's house is through a courtyard enclosed by stones from a nearby mountain, designed to compress the sensory qualities of the natural world into a small piece of land. An open-air sunken round tub sets the stage for pure relaxation. The architect loves to have a refreshing dip in the bath, gazing up to the trees and mountains under the stars. It feels restful and spa-like.

The living room seating area provides a very gracious entry, because the first things you see in the house are the welcoming looking chairs and beanbags.

The architect knew how to make the most of the space. The house's sleek but elegant style took over with its characteristic voluptuous attention to detail.

The light-flooded 12-by-12-meter house is divided into four spaces. Each of the them - he rigorously kept them the same size - caters to a separate function. The living room is located behind the entry, the study is next, stationed behind the living area. The bedroom wing fills the final section at the other end. And next to the living area is the kitchen and dining space. The owner's desire for easy transitions between rooms is aided by corridors around the house.

In every aspect of the space, an appreciation for natural materials and craftsmanship is clear. Stone from a nearby mountain was cut into cubes and used as a structural element. Wood, glass and iron sheet are also incorporated into the design.