Song-Zhang-Kou: A New Approach to Rural Housing

Preserving Collective Lifestyle and Affordability

The design inspiration for Song-Zhang-Kou comes from the traditional Northern Jiangsu Architecture, which has been refined and simplified to meet the budget constraints. The cluster house grouping creates various village cores, fostering neighborhood bonding and a sense of community. Each individual courtyard serves as a private space for vegetable gardening, storage, and sun-curing habits, enhancing the residents' quality of life.

One of the key strengths of this design is its ability to provide affordable housing without compromising on aesthetics. The construction cost of the project is 70% lower than similar housing developments, achieved through value engineering and innovative design solutions. Traditional architectural details have been simplified, and contrast color-coated modules replace complicated decorations. The beauty of the hipped and gable roofing outline is retained, while the type of roof tiles has been standardized. The proportions of doors and windows have been carefully calculated to optimize ventilation, natural lighting, and views. Additionally, solar panels have been added to all units to eliminate the safety hazards associated with traditional firewood stoves.

The design team, led by Jia You, immersed themselves in the local community to understand the specific needs and daily routines of the future tenants. By converting these raw demands into an integrated design, the final construction outcome reflects the organic village context. The 16 village cores serve as community facilities, creating various possibilities for vital traditional street life and fostering interaction among neighbors. The private courtyard layouts provide enclosed spaces for vegetable gardens and sun-curing habits, promoting indoor-outdoor interaction within families and creating a pleasant and relaxing living experience.

Song-Zhang-Kou New Rural Housing is not only a solution to the housing needs of over 600 tenants but also a testament to the commitment to improving the well-being of rural residents and the overall outlook of new rural communities. This project demonstrates that affordable housing can be aesthetically pleasing and functional, while preserving the collective lifestyle and cultural heritage of rural areas.

Completed in May 2020, the Song-Zhang-Kou project has received recognition for its excellence. It was awarded the Iron A' Design Award in the Construction and Real Estate Projects Design category in 2021. This prestigious award honors well-designed, practical, and innovative creations that meet professional and industrial requirements. The Song-Zhang-Kou project stands out for its integration of industry best practices, competent technical characteristics, and its contribution to a better world.