Qing: A Renovated Villa in Shanghai

Refurbishing Traditional Chinese Architecture

Different from the simplicity and neatness of western architecture, Qing's refurbished facades feature scattered layouts and plentiful lines, conveying richness in layers reminiscent of the traditional river houses of Southern China. The use of materials is abstemious, with window glass, blue brick, and white walls taking center stage. Designer Peilun Li aims to refurbish an architectural language through varied construction details and explore more expressions with fewer materials.

Qing's design incorporates two solid blocks to minimize traffic interference, with a retracted entrance space set between them. The largest addition is the cantilever on the west side, which features French windows that interweave tree shadows and water waves, creating a dynamic landscape within the villa. The site spans 985 square meters, while the interior covers 516 square meters.

The project, which began in April 2015 and concluded in August 2017, is located in Shanghai, China. The design process involved extensive research, particularly in the use of exterior materials. Besides window glass, the exterior materials are simplified to blue brick and white walls, commonly found in Chinese traditional architecture. The designer experimented with different dimensioned bricks and varied brickwork methods to explore the expressions of a single material, achieving both penetrability and shelter functionality.

The renovation of Qing presented several challenges, including the need to reorganize the messy and disordered facade of the original villa. However, the project successfully achieved its goal of refurbishing a new architectural language while preserving the existing structure. The result is a unique blend of traditional Chinese elements and modern design.

Qing's exceptional design was recognized with the Bronze A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building, and Structure Design category in 2019. This prestigious award acknowledges designs that demonstrate outstanding creativity and resourcefulness, incorporating best practices in art, science, design, and technology. Qing's innovative approach contributes to quality of life improvements, making it a worthy recipient of this esteemed accolade.