A Beautiful Courtyard House Modeled After Traditional Chinese Homes

Inspired by the idea that a courtyard adds character to a house and allows it to tell a better and more complete story, the talented team from IAPA Design Consultants came up with a wonderful design plan for a house located in Beijing. The overall style and architecture of the building are inspired by traditional Chinese houses but they’re refined and altered to suit a modern lifestyle and to adapt to the present times and vernacular.

The house frames the courtyard on three sides, turning this into a very sheltered and intimate space
The house frames the courtyard on three sides, turning this into a very sheltered and intimate space

They wanted this to be a place where people can feel comfortable and where they can connect to nature on a pure level in a way that not many other houses allow them to. Elements such as the backyard water feature make that possible. Simplicity was also an important part of the design strategy so for the exterior the architects went with Composite panels which are modular and could thus be used to create a flexible design in a short amount of time. 

One side of the courtyard remains open and offers a beautiful view over the distant landscape
One side of the courtyard remains open and offers a beautiful view over the distant landscape
The Corten steel accents suit the eclectic style of the house and its surroundings
The Corten steel accents suit the eclectic style of the house and its surroundings

The exterior walls feature stone texture paint which adds a bit of detail to the detail without cluttering it with ornate elements. It also helps the house to more easily blend in with the beautiful natural landscape. 

The exterior color palette helps the house to blend in with the surrounding landscape
The exterior color palette helps the house to blend in with the surrounding landscape
A beautiful water feature serves as one of the courtyard's focal points
A beautiful water feature serves as one of the courtyard’s focal points

This also creates a contrasting distinction between the walls, the roofline and the matching frames for the windows and doors. Inside, the spaces are welcoming and the decor simple which allows the focus to always remain on the exterior. The courtyard is a sheltered space which feels like a natural part of the house. The fire pit creates a cozy central point, a space where everyone can gather and enjoy each other’s company. Corten steel planters are sprinkled across, adding a bit of color and texture to the courtyard and helping to tie together all the different areas and sections. 

The house itself is a modern reinterpretation of traditional Chinese architecture
The house itself is a modern reinterpretation of traditional Chinese architecture
Wood, concrete and Corten steel are very different materials which go really well together in this context
Wood, concrete and Corten steel are very different materials which go really well together in this context
This particular layout offers easy access to the courtyard to all the different sections of the house
This particular layout offers easy access to the courtyard to all the different sections of the house