Phoenix Tree Garden: A Modern Interpretation of Traditional Chinese Gardens

Qingfan Zhang's Award-Winning Design Blends Architecture and Nature in a Unique Tea Space

The inspiration for Phoenix Tree Garden came from Suzhou classical gardens. Elements such as the small arch bridge and the stone paving were borrowed from these traditional gardens. Zhang used these elements to create several tea rooms, each offering different views and feelings, in less than 200 square meters. The design also includes a cloud wall at the entrance and a curved moon door that separates the garden's interior and exterior.

What sets Phoenix Tree Garden apart from other designs is its unique combination of traditional and modern elements. Zhang transformed the language of traditional gardens, creating a new garden conception by dealing with a series of relationships between elements, such as the relationship between canals and clouds, the pavilion and the canal, and rocks and waterfalls. This approach gives the garden a contemporary architectural space while maintaining the poetry of traditional gardens.

The realization of this design was achieved through the use of red rock laminar stack, the light-transparent bridge of the steel grille, gray and colored cobblestone paving, and 10 cm small gray tile paving. These materials give the garden a simple and authentic atmosphere. The project covers a total of 214.99 square meters, transforming a single large space into a number of scenic spots linked garden space.

The project started in April 2018 in Beijing and was completed in March 2019. The owner rented a yard in the hutong and asked Atelier ZZ to design a tea house garden that included elements of traditional gardens and had the true feeling of traditional gardens. Despite the challenges of similar courtyard structures and the current state of the house being demolished, Zhang used the folding wall and the moon door to change the internal space axis and organized a new landscape order with small bridges, waterways, and stacked mountains.

Phoenix Tree Garden was awarded Silver in A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2020. This prestigious award is given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. Zhang's design is admired for its strong technical characteristics and splendid artistic skill, showcasing a remarkable level of excellence and introducing positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.