Designed by Tokamarch Architects, the XishuangbanNa Residence deals mainly with the relationship between the modern building and local natural environment. The traditional “Dai” village keeps a great balance with the natural environment in XiShuangBanNa. The boundary of every family is divided by bamboo fences or green plants. Luxuriant and multi-layered primitive woods have brought people a green and lively village, The relationship between the living space and the natural environment is in a harmonous compatible symbiosis. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The site is located in the center of the city ‘JingHong’ (‘XiSuangBanNa’), which is next to 214 national highway (MengHai road),and just east of “Splashing Water” square, The location is also overlooking LanCang River in distance with open views. XiShuangBanNa means ‘ideal and magical land’ in ancient ‘Dai’ language. It is famous for its tropical rain forests and customs of aboriginal people. JingHong means ‘the City of Dawn’, which is the center of politics, economics and culture in XiShuangBanNa. The LanCang River is nicknamed ‘The Eastern Duna River’ for its important waterway to Southeast Asian countries.
Recently, most of the cities in China have the same “face” due to rapid development urging for instant success and quick profits, which ignores local history, cultural background and the climate conditions,These cities have lost their own local characters and charm. However, XiShuangBanNa still keeps rich local customs and unique natural environmental characteristics. The “Dai” bamboo house is made up of local materials such as woods and bamboos. It is also open and lightly blended within the natural surroundings. As a result, the relationship between human and nature is in harmony and coexistence. Presently many real estate corporations are attracted by XiShuangBanNa for its special tourism and resources.
The project transfers horizontal living spaces of the traditional ‘Dai’ village into vertical living spaces, creating a local, natural and modern new architecture, as a result. Traditional ‘Dai’ houses sit in harmony and coexistence with natural environment to introduce natural environment factors into modern living space so that traditional ‘Dai’ villages blend into the natural environment. Modern living spaces vertically settle with the traditional village spatial arrangement producing a new vertical “Dai” village. The bamboo is inseparable with local architectural culture, which is the natural transition medium between natural environment and human living environment.
Aerial gardens are produced through the “setback platform” of each level, Double- height public courtyards settle on every two levels to become the modern vertical village with local characters.Introducing different and multi-layered primitive woods and tropical plants into aerial courtyards will enrich the living environment. Moreover, green courtyards within the modern building produce the micro- ecological environment for a healthy life. Grasses soften the building edge and ground while the trees and plants provide protection from the sun and wind, all while absorbing traffic sounds from streets, This also provides for good landscaping. In addition, soils act as regenerators, which help to keep heats in the room, in order to save energy.
Double height public courtyards on every two levels combine with “setback platform” design, which make public courtyards totally open and avoid the oppression from the upper level. Sufficient spaces and sunlight make sure that trees and plants have enough spaces to grow up and combine with resting places and swimming pool facilities, which enrich spatial experiences of the public courtyards. The courtyards link by the staircases to provide convenience for the user of space. Architects: Tokamarch Architects Location: JingHong, China Team members: He Wei, Fu Changrui, Wang Guofeng, Lui Weiwei, Chen Na, Li Jie, Yang Hengpeng, Su Le, Wang Tao, Christ Pettis Co-Design: Fangyuanboya Design Group, Migratory Bird Landscape Design Group Digital Support: ViewPoint CG Renders: Courtesy of Tokomarch Architects
