Reviving Tradition: The Chinese Quadrangle by Zhang ZhaoYong

Blending Modernity and Tradition in a Unique Architectural Design

Zhang ZhaoYong's Chinese Quadrangle is a unique hotel design that draws inspiration from the traditional quadrangle courtyard. The design, which appears inconspicuous from the outside, opens up to reveal a world of its own. Every brick and tile exudes a strong, unsophisticated atmosphere of life, reflecting Zhang's deep understanding of Chinese traditional culture, space scale, and human settlement concept. The result is a beautiful blend of modernity and tradition.

The Chinese Quadrangle stands out for its unique properties. As Zhang explains, "Pieces of clay tiles connect the ancient with the modern, enhance the unsophisticated and good-neighborly affection. The old eaves were filled with happy laughter and cheerful voices. Although the courtyard is low and hardly comparable to the modern buildings, its warm and fresh earthy atmosphere can draw your hearts closer, dispel loneliness and make your dreams more visible." This design, a crystallization of traditional wisdom and civilization, is a dynamic architectural model that offers valuable insights for today's urban housing.

The realization of this design involved endowing the space with layers based on the traditional quadrangle courtyard, including the landscape of the sky and the ground. The landscape is integrated into the courtyard, creating an overlap between the inside and the outside. The arrayed brick walls are made entirely of grey recycled bricks, further enhancing the design's sustainability.

The Chinese Quadrangle covers a project area of 5460 square meters. The design team, led by Zhang ZhaoYong and including designer Zhan Shuaihong, faced the challenge of showcasing the cultural value of the Quadrangle, a profound architectural design culture passed down by Chinese architecture. Their solution was to adhere to principles of ingenuity, sincerity, meticulousness, and reassurance, deeply grasping the traditional Chinese culture, spatial scale, and human settlement concept.

This design, completed in 2019 in Luoyang, was awarded Silver in A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2020. The award recognizes top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. Zhang ZhaoYong's Chinese Quadrangle is indeed a remarkable design that introduces positive feelings, amazement, and wonder, showcasing a remarkable level of excellence.