Twisting Courtyard, Beijing

Twisting courtyard is located in Paizihutong, Dashilar Area, Beijing. It used to be a Siheyuan with one single entry. The purpose of the improvement is to upgrade the necessary infrastructure needed for modern life, thus turning this traditional courtyard, which mainly serve as a residence, into an attractive public space of Beijing Inner City.

▲入口／entrance

        项目位于北京大栅栏地区的排子胡同，原本是一座单进四合院。改造的目的是升级现代生活所需的必要基础设施，将这处曾经以居住功能为主的传统小院儿转变为北京内城一处有吸引力的公共活动场所。

▲庭院夜景／courtyard in night

Twist within regular layout

规整格局之下的扭动

▲入口转折／entrance corner

The design aims at getting rid of the solemn and stereotyped impression given by Siheyuan, and creating an open and active living atmosphere. Based on the existing layout of the courtyard, the undulated floor is used to connect indoor and outdoor spaces of different height. And it is extended to the inside of the house, twisting into walls and roof, thus creating dynamic connection between inside and outside space. What's hidden within the curved wall is necessary auxiliary spaces such as kitchen, toilet and warehouse; while reception and dinning spaces are shown outside the curved wall and connect to the courtyard as a whole. Both indoor and outdoor floors are paved with gray brick. A hawthorn tree in the courtyard is kept and being part of the twisting landscape. 

▲庭院／courtyard

▲会客厅／living room

        改变原本四合院的庄重、刻板的印象，营造开放、活跃的院落生活氛围。基于已有院落格局，利用起伏的地面连接室内外高差并延伸至房屋内部扭曲成为墙和顶，让内外空间产生新的动态关联。隐于曲墙之内的是厨房、卫生间、库房等必要的服务性空间；显于曲墙之外的会客、餐饮空间与庭院连接成为一个整体。室内外地面均采用灰砖铺就，院中原有的一颗山楂树也被保留在扭动的景观之中。

▲餐厅／dining room

▲厨房／kitchen

Twist between patterns of utilization

使用模式之间的扭转

▲庭院鸟瞰／bird's-eye view

The small yard is mainly used as urban public space while maintaining the possibility of using as a residence. The four houses can be rented for public events for purposes such as recreation, meeting and gathering. Meanwhile, they could be served as a family hostel with three bedrooms.  Integrated furniture is used to enable the flexible switch of space scenes. Furniture boxes are inserted into the existing wood frames of east and west wings. Wood platform with lifting table hidden inside could be used as tearoom or bedroom. Bed wall and partitive soft curtain are also used in the main room on the north to meet multiple use requirements.

▲庭院鸟瞰／bird's-eye view

▲厢房，茶室和卧室可以转换／flexible conversion between tea room and bedroom

        小院儿的使用主要作为城市公共活动空间，同时也保留了居住的可能性。四间房屋可被随时租用来进行休闲、会谈、聚会等公共活动；同时也可以做为带有三间卧室的家庭旅舍。整合式家具用来满足空间场景的这种弹性切换。东西厢房在原有木框架下嵌入了家具盒子。木质地台暗藏升降桌面，既可作为茶室空间，也可以作为卧室来使用。北侧正房也设有翻床家具墙体和分隔软帘，同样可以满足这种多用需求。

▲正房，休息区和卧室可以转换／flexible conversion between relexation room and master bedroom

▲浴室／bathroom

For building type “Siheyuan”, the courtyard is the core of living fun. "Twisting courtyard" makes micro-adjustment to relations between the parts to change the temperament of the courtyard space and to meet requirements of multiple use without changing the existing housing structure, making the traditional courtyard up-to-date and being integrated into modern urban life.

▲庭院细节／courtyard details

        院子是“四合院”这种建筑类型生活乐趣的核心所在。而“扭院儿”就是在维持已有房屋结构不变的条件下，通过局部关系的微调改变院落空间的气质并满足多样的使用，让传统小院儿能够与时俱进的融入到当代城市生活之中。

▲庭院细节／courtyard details

▲分析图／analysis charts

▲公共活动模式平面／public activities mode

▲居住模式平面／dwelling mode

▲剖面图／section

项目地址：排子胡同，北京

项目类型：民居改造

用地面积：225.4平米

建筑面积：161.5平米

主要材料：灰砖、橡木板

设计时间：2016.06-2016.09

施工时间：2016.10-2017.05

设计团队：韩文强、黄涛

设计公司：建筑营设计工作室

家具配饰：宋国超

摄影师：王宁、金伟琦

撰文：韩文强

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