Courtyard Xiaoya: On the Rooftop, Under the Sky

The project is located in the Xucun Industrial Zone, Jiaxing, China. The architect built an elegant courtyard on the roof of a factory and named it Xiaoya. Since it is adjacent to a main road, with many surrounding houses, the designer uses green plants as walls to block out the sight and noise from the road.

The architecture is open to facilitate the fluidity of light and throughout. What immediately stands out is a corridor design that helps bridge open spaces to create inter-connectedness.

There are two water courtyards. The central one takes a view of the sky and the water as a mirror. The shadow is refracted indoor, into the dining hall and meeting room.

Modern elements juxtapose against oriental styling to create an interesting composition converging the old and the new. A reminder of the passage of time, grilles mimic a sundial in its use of sunlight to cast shadows to inject visual interest and add character to this renewed space.

Oriental gardens combine bridges, ponds, and other elements to bring nature into the premise. Xiaoya uses the concept of oriental gardens to create a western landscape, denoted by geometric patterns, vegetation, architecture, and water features to instill a sense of harmony and calm. Within, mirrors and windows are strategically placed to give one a full, uninterrupted view of the outside.

When the sky gets dark, you can see the interior through the light and shadow on the glass, and see the opposite view through the rear window to create a visual that is both mellow and interesting.

Designed by Da Xiang Design Studio

Photo Credit: Haha Lu