From an architect's professional practice, even for a private small space, or a yard for a hermit in solitude in the city, priority will also be given to consideration of the project's location. This courtyard lies between two ancient temple clusters: one, only a block away, is the Northeast watchtower turret of the Palace Museum; the other, occupying half of the alley to the north, is the Zhizhu (pearl of wisdom) Temple. The former has become a cultural calling card of the civilization of the ancient capital Beijing, while the latter, restored and rehabilitated several years ago by the Belgian-born architect Wen Shounuo and his team, has started to hint at the promise and potential of reviving ancient courtyard space into something new.
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View to the west house. Interior terrazzo floor is cast in one piece, juxtaposed with the textured worn-out granite square stones, and natural soil layer will allow three kinds of grasses to grow. All Passive House related technologies and materials are hidden from the view. The Tai-ming slab (a stone plate laid in between the two column pedestals) from Qing dynasty was discovered during construction and re-utilized. The space consciously combines new and old materials and furniture, and the result is a time-capsulated space that evokes sustained culture and their respected stories. Image © Zoulei
