The residential complex, designed by David Chipperfield Architects, has assimilated and integrated the aspects that define the landscape of the national wetland park: water, landscape and architecture. Therefore, the apartment buildings have the exterior walls covered with a harmonious palette of colors which tune in to the natural environment. These apartments are surrounded by a water garden with powerful scenic qualities. The residential blocks operate independently but are connected by a common plint to all buildings. This base is where the exterior urban activity will take place.
The interiors take advantage of the location by exploiting the scenic qualities of the environment. The interior rooms are bright and oriented towards the outside thanks to large floor-to-floor windows that allow a fluid communication between the outside national park and inside space.
Description of the project by David Chipperfield Architects.
Xixi, a national wetland park located on the outskirts of Hangzhou, is a built landscape and an area of nature, which has been shaped by man for over a thousand years. The omnipresent relationship between landscape, architecture, and water is key to the atmosphere in Xixi. This atmosphere has been integrated into a new development of apartment buildings.
The apartment buildings are surrounded by a water garden, which, as a reference to the wetland park, is a mostly wild landscape. In contrast to these green surroundings, the buildings appear as dark stone volumes embedded in the water garden. They are, as is typical for villages in Xixi, placed on a stone plinth that sits in the water. This plinth forms the base of a village group with various levels, walls, and balustrades creating a sequence of exterior spaces, which enable access to the buildings. The interiors are characterised by floating spaces. Room height windows allow for natural light and views over the water garden.
CREDITS. DATA SHEET.-
Architect.- David Chipperfield Architects Berlin, Shanghai.
Design.- Mark Randel – Partner.
Project management.- Libin Chen – Partner.
Project architects.- Ilona Priwitzer, Manh Kinh Tran, Sascha Jung and Samson Adjei.
Contact architect.- ECADI (East China Architecture and Design Institute).
Landscape architect.- Belt & Collins.
Structural and services engineer.- ECADI.
Photography.- Simon Menges.
Client.- Hangzhou Westbrook Investment Company.
Dates.- from 2007 to 2015.
Gross floor area.- 11.800 sqm.
