Step House / Wonder Architects

Step House / Wonder Architects - Interior PhotographyStep House / Wonder Architects - Interior PhotographyStep House / Wonder Architects - Interior PhotographyStep House / Wonder Architects - Interior Photography, StairsStep House / Wonder Architects - More Images+ 40

Wuhan, China
  • Architects: WangChong Studio
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  500
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2021
  • Photographs
    Photographs:Yumeng Zhu
  • Architectural Design & Interior Design: Chong Wang
  • Construction Drawing: Chong Wang, Zaixin Huang, Liyu Huang, Yanpei Chen
  • Design Consultant: Xianfeng Ye, Yu Lin
  • City: Wuhan
  • Country: China
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Step House / Wonder Architects - Exterior Photography
At the end of winter, the withered lotus in the pond is gestating vitality. Image © Yumeng Zhu

Text description provided by the architects. The story begins in the East Lake Greenway. It is unimaginable that in Wuhan with a population of more than 10 million, there is a trail that stretches for more than 100 kilometers. It spans large mountains and lakes, through bamboo forests and cherry blossoms, crisscrossing polder fields, and rice paddies. Fortunately, the embarrassment of "Same Imagine of different Cities" finally disappeared on the site. At the intersection of lakes and rivers in Wuhan, the imagination of a landscape city is growing crazily again.

Step House / Wonder Architects - Exterior Photography, Waterfront
In time, of course, East Lake Greenway also connects the site at the entrance of Hou Shanbi Village, Ma Anshan Park. Image © Yumeng Zhu

Step House / Wonder Architects - Exterior Photography, Facade
Moving from the yard, it is East Lake. Image © Yumeng Zhu

The Canopy. We can no longer think of how we felt when we first faced the two old houses in the site, because in the winter of 2018, the morning fog of East Lake, the withered remnants of lotus root, and the lush spruce on the side of the village filled all the memories. In the following ten times of running, the sounds of birds and frogs, green bamboos and tender lotus roots, and the fishing nets by the lake in the sunset, are like pieces of puzzles, creating a complete situation for the "Step House". Undoubtedly, for urbanites trapped in "civilization", this situation is already attractive enough, and the stigma in our genes makes us want to "return to nature". However, for us, design is by no means as simple as framed scenery. "The most beautiful scenery is people." We must not only introduce the landscape but also attract people to make more activities happen here.

Step House / Wonder Architects - Exterior Photography
Or overlook the spruce forest or the lake from the roof courtyard. Image © Yumeng Zhu

Step House / Wonder Architects - Interior Photography, Dining room, Chair
For the library in the north building, people can watch the bonsai garden on the dining table. Image © Yumeng Zhu

It is a choice that requires courage to use more than half of the indoor area for public activities instead of clearly-priced guest rooms. However, after the completion of the building, the crowds have proved that this is a correct decision. Restricted by rural laws and regulations, the original outline of the building must be maintained for the reconstruction, but its internal space has become very rich.

Step House / Wonder Architects - Interior Photography
The cool industrial texture and warm wood texture achieved visual coordination. Image © Yumeng Zhu
Step House / Wonder Architects - Interior Photography
The original simple roof of the house was removed, and the newly plastic concrete roof exposed the rough texture. Image © Yumeng Zhu
Step House / Wonder Architects - Interior Photography
The metasequoia in the village and the sloping roofs that can be seen everywhere bring design clues, and the two elements of wood and sloping roofs are used repeatedly. Image © Yumeng Zhu

Ascend. So how do people watch "forests and lakes" under the high-open house-shaped canopy? The design was inspired by the experience of climbing the hills of Wuhan, and it was confirmed by the Song Dynasty landscape painting "A Solitary Temple amid Clearing Peaks“(晴峦萧寺图.circa 960). On the way to climb, pavilions, pavilions, pavilions, huts, and slab bridges appeared on the hills of Chinese artistic conception. Constituted the "Step" and "Terrace" that people stopped and looked around. The ancients called the rolling hills "Lu Hui", the step house is that It is named after this.

Step House / Wonder Architects - Interior Photography, Stairs
The steps are staggered high and low, forming a movement line of "climbing", enriching the feeling of wandering, and amplifying the sense of space. Image © Yumeng Zhu
Step House / Wonder Architects - Interior Photography, Stairs
Ladder Library under concrete roof. Image © Yumeng Zhu
Step House / Wonder Architects - Interior Photography, Stairs
Stairs arouse curiosity, people climb up unconsciously. Image © Yumeng Zhu

Containment. The sun was welcome to enter the door, they moved on the wall, leaving a light spot of time, drew people to stop and meditate. In the early morning, the east window facing the bamboo forest was sprinkled with quiet cold light, and the shadows of the trees were graceful; and in the afternoon, immersed in the warm sunlight on the west side, making the lake view romantic.

Step House / Wonder Architects - Interior Photography, Stairs
or you can watch the forest tips on the second floor. Image © Yumeng Zhu
Step House / Wonder Architects - Interior Photography, Living Room
Or climb the stairs up to the terrace, overlooking the spacious lake.... Image © Yumeng Zhu

In the past year, Wuhan was hit by a new type of coronavirus, but shortly afterward, the city resumed high-speed operations. People from long-deprived homes have come one after another. What Step House most hopes to incorporate is the rich emotions behind Shining city. The epidemic has caused people to constantly reflect: What is happiness? It's a simple life, a joyful reunion, it's even the constant "modern homesickness".

Step House / Wonder Architects - Interior Photography, Bedroom, Wood
Overlooking the southern hills and from the pond. Image © Yumeng Zhu
Step House / Wonder Architects - Interior Photography, Bathroom
The geometrical architecture creates a relaxed and concise visual effect. Image © Yumeng Zhu

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About this office
Cite: "Step House / Wonder Architects" 17 May 2021. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/961399/step-house-wonder-architects> ISSN 0719-8884

For the people in the steel forest, the destination city also needs a natural outlet. Image © Yumeng Zhu

武汉东湖峦舍 / 王冲工作室

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