Xixi Wetland Estate 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.
Photos by: David Chipperfield Architects & Simon Menges
View more: A Spacious and Elegant House with Cozy Color Schemes in Urban Chaos
Related: A Stunning Contemporary Bungalow Built on a Sloping Landscape in Singapore
Here: A Cozy Contemporary House for a Young Family with Two Children in Fitzroy North
Read also: A Vibrant Home with a Comfortable Mix of Traditional and Contemporary Elements in Sydney
Next: A Rustic Contemporary Home with Facade Composed of Stone and Glass Elements in Ecuador
Check out: A Contemporary Home Offers Stunning Views of Surrounding Landscape in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Read more: An Industrial Warehouse Converted into Light-Filled Home in Fitzroy, Victoria
See also: A Stunning Modern Home with Wonderful Views Over the Rocky Mountains in Aspen, Colorado
View the complete gallery
Join the discussion