Architects: Atelier KAI Architects
Area: 93 m²
Year: 2024
Photographs: XING RUI
Lead Architects: Kai Xie, Ye Han
Design Team: Kai Xie, Ye Han, Hui Zhao, Lichao Liu, Yuanyuan Wang, Jinbin Zhang, Lida Tang, Kehan Jiang, Yanxin Zhang, Qiubao Tang
Structural Designer: LAVA Structural Engineers
Interior Designer: Atelier KAI Architectes
Construction: Golden Pomegranate (Beijing) Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd.
Curtain Wall Consultation: Beijing Boya Engineering Consulting Co., Ltd., Shanghai Pincheng Co., Ltd.
Lighting Consultation: Singer (Beijing) International Lighting Design Co., Ltd.
Client: Mr. Li, Ms. Zheng
City: Beijing
Country: China
Carrying Pole House by Atelier KAI Architects is a renovation project in Mao’er Hutong, Beijing, transforming a narrow, five-bay house with sloping roofs and a small courtyard. The addition of a box element introduces sunken, large, and roof spaces, enhancing functionality and spatial perception by creating a dialogue with the original features. The design converts the narrow layout into a flexible square space suitable for living, exhibitions, and work. A three-dimensional courtyard integrates with the sloping roofs, using staggered platforms to create dynamic light and spatial relationships. A lightweight steel truss system, distinct from the old wooden structure, forms a “pole truss,” balancing old and new materials. The renovation blends natural metal, polycarbonate, and mortar with the existing wooden system, transforming the house into a space that feels both familiar and abstract.
Renovation or new construction? Located in Mao’er Hutong, Beijing, the house is a five-bay, bar-shaped structure with sloping roofs on the north and south sides, and a narrow courtyard just over 3 meters wide. By adding a box element, the design introduces three new spaces: sunken, large, and roof spaces. This addition expands the functional diversity and practical benefits of the original layout.
In terms of spatial perception, the renovation transforms the original single spatial experience into three distinct ones, each maintaining a connection with the original elements: the sunken space relates to the original courtyard, the large space interacts with the existing wooden frame, and the roof space engages with the original roof. These spaces are interconnected and integrated, enhancing the overall cohesiveness without separation.
The first strategy involves transforming the original narrow strip space into a square configuration to create a flexible, large area that is functional and streamlined, making it suitable for living, exhibitions, and work.
The second strategy focuses on creating a three-dimensional courtyard. By utilizing the sloping roof of the neighboring house and integrating it with a newly built semi-elevated platform, a landscape is formed that gently stretches toward the sky. This courtyard feels immersed in the sky, with the sloping roofs acting as channels that allow the surrounding scenery to flow into the house. The semi-sunken floor borrows space from the ground, creating a quiet, intimate setting that offers private views of the mottled walls. By strategically sinking and lifting various elements, a staggered, three-dimensional space and flow are established, allowing light and scenery to interact in complex, multidimensional ways, creating both large and small spatial relationships. This approach addresses the challenges of expanding spatial perception and enhancing the integration of indoor and outdoor environments.
The structural typology features a large steel truss weighing just 1.9 tons, designed to be fundamentally separate from the original wooden roof truss system, minimizing its connection to the ground. This creates an enclosed yet floating space that can be easily restored to its original appearance if dismantled. One end of the truss is anchored by a pull rod, while the other is cantilevered towards the opposite side, with a middle column serving as the fulcrum to support a 6-ton floor slab, forming what is termed a “pole truss.”
When placed in a compact space of only a few dozen square meters, the interplay of scale between the large truss and the small space creates a dynamic tension. Furthermore, the contrast between the new steel structure and the existing wooden elements transforms familiar aspects into something new and unfamiliar. This interaction begins to balance the old and new orders within the space, leading to the emergence of new spatial experiences and styles. The third strategy emphasizes making the structure the focal point of the space, with the new suspended steel system and the old wooden framework distinctly separated, both visually and conceptually, adding layers of meaning to the design.
The renovation introduced materials like natural metal, semi-transparent polycarbonate, and plastering mortar, which interact within the wooden system to add warmth and texture. Before the renovation, the interior and exterior of the bamboo pole house were fully visible, giving it a mundane appearance and a sense of transparency that made daily life seem dull. Post-renovation, these new materials transformed the familiar setting into something both abstract and realistic, creating a space that feels both familiar and new, blending subjective abstraction with practical functionality.
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Project Location
Address: Mao’er Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
