A flat roof villa with extensive greenery, natural stone facade and narrow windows redefines traditional Chinese architecture - the LEI House, a project by AZL architects, presents an exciting mix of two architectural styles. Tradition meets modernity and the end result impresses with a clever concept. We present you a holiday home with character that can fit harmoniously into both the village and contemporary urban landscape. Let the project inspire you!
The flat roof villa was inspired by traditional Chinese architecture
In contrast to the big cities in China, where numerous skyscrapers have dominated the urban landscape for around 30 years and traditional single-family houses no longer exist, little has changed in terms of architecture in the countryside. The traditional construction of houses in the villages follows the principle of “architecture without architects and planning”. In recent years, more and more old buildings have been demolished - and the new buildings present themselves as eclecticMix between tradition and modernity. An excellent example is the LEI House – located in Tonglu Province. The flat roof villa is located in the village of Shanyinwu and is only a few kilometers away from the nearby big city. Like almost all of the neighboring houses, it also urgently needed modernization. The talented architects from AZL-Architekturbüro were commissioned with the task. The owner specified a multifunctional interior space where she can have a separate apartment on the third floor and rent out the first two floors as a guest house.
The architects chose traditional Chinese architecture - the house consists of one volume, has narrow windows (typical of the villages) and is only three floors high. TheFacade is in natural stonesclad – the material creates a visual connection to the hilly surroundings and adds a fresh touch to the facade design. But that's where the similarities to the old buildings from the region end. The villa was actually built from steel and concrete, the garden was designed according to the needs of the guests. A spacious terrace accommodates three seating areas made of rattan furniture, a spacious dining area and even a garden shed. Extensive green roofs offer the owner the opportunity to enjoy her own island of peace. Many wooden boxes planted with vegetables and herbs shield the roof garden from prying eyes.
With a minimalist garden house in the outdoor area
The absolute highlight in the outdoor area is the garden house. Located in the middle of a garden pond, the house was made from prefabricated 3D wall panels and then just assembled on site. Numerous holes were punched in the south-facing panel - theseallow plenty of sunlight into the interiorand create an exciting play of light and shadow when the weather is good. The spacious gazebo offers guests the opportunity to spend time outdoors on rainy days or to end even cool evenings outside. At the same time, the garden house is inseparable from the house, has a direct power connection and lighting and can therefore fulfill numerous functions, including serving as storage space for the rattan furniture in winter.
The advantages of the prefabricated construction played a major role in the success - in China there are hardly any skilled workers to be found in the countryside, and most projects are realized on a small budget. Since the individual details of the prefabricated house were prefabricated, the architects were able to keep an overview of the costs involved. The transport and assembly costs have also been kept to a minimum - a click system enables quick assembly and the individual elements are low in weight compared to bricks and wooden beams.
The interior combines functionality with comfort
A staircase in the middle of the living area connects all floors. On the ground floor there is a stylish dining room with direct access to the kitchen, which is equipped with everything you need. This means the guests can cook together in the evening. The architects also tried to save as much money as possible when it came to furnishings. The bamboo pendant lights were made by local experts. Otherwise, the furniture is kept to the essentials. The guest rooms are all extremely comfortable with a spacious double bed, three-seater sofa and a small side table. The owner's apartment also has a small kitchenette where she can prepare her favorite dishes undisturbed.
The walls are deliberately kept white - since the house has narrow windows, not enough sunlight comes into the rooms. The white walls were intended to make the rooms appear brighter. The simple, modern look of the staircase with glass railings and the white ceiling with recessed lights add a minimalist touch to the interior design. The carpet, on the other hand, gives the rooms a homely look. Together with the wooden furniture and the charming linen-upholstered sofas, it creates a cozy atmosphere. The decoration was very sparing - the charming decorative cushions with patterns in particular set accents.
In the end, the LEI house is a successful combination of old and new - on the one hand, with its stone-clad facade and narrow windows, it blends harmoniously into the village landscape, and on the other hand, the house turns out to be a modern building thanks to the extensive green roof Garden house made of prefabricated panels and the terrace with concrete floor as a minimalist beauty. The extremely practical distribution of space and the comfortable furnishings leave nothing to be desired by guests.
Project by:AZL Architects
