Architects: Wonder Architects
Area: 100 m²
Year: 2019
Photography: Yumeng Zhu
Lead Architect: Chong Wang
Project Team: Chong Wang, Tailin Jin
Structural Engineer: Xuemei Gao
Construction: Yonghi Hu
City: Beijing
Country: China
Intertwine House, an extension by Wonder Architects in Yangqing, China, was completed in 2019 to blend rural tradition with modern design. The structure is clad in pale green ceramic tiles that echo the scale and pitched roofs of the neighboring village homes, maintaining a cohesive look within the traditional setting. Built on former yard space, the extension connects to an existing 1980s house through an enclosed corridor and an upper terrace, creating a unified layout that bridges old and new.
The Intertwine House extension features a glazed gable entry, skylight, and ground-level windows that fill the new kitchen and dining areas with natural light. Inside, white walls and timber flooring provide a modern contrast to the original home’s brick and wood materials, creating a balanced interplay between contemporary finishes and the existing structure’s rustic elements.
The original house, constructed in the 1980s, was initially used as a wedding room. Though it has experienced significant wear over time, the structure retains elements of its historical charm. Wonder Architects sought to explore ways for rural Chinese areas to engage in urban renewal while preserving existing architecture.
The new extension, built on a former yard, introduces a distinct form that connects to the original home via a “cave-like” interior corridor and an upper-level terrace framed by sloping walls. The ceramic-tiled finish of the new building intersects with the original structure’s brick and wood, uniting them through continuous lines along walls and the roof terrace.
At the eastern end, an open front door leads directly into the central yard. Access to the extension is through a glazed gable end behind a low wall section.
Inside, a kitchen and dining area is illuminated by a ground-level strip of windows and a skylight above, enhancing natural light. A small gallery space links the extension with the original house, where bedrooms and bathrooms are located.
Contrasting with the old building’s wood and brick, the new living spaces are lined with plain white walls and pale timber floors. Small staircases highlight changes in level across Intertwine House, extending up to the roof terrace.
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Project Location
Address: Yangqing, Beijing, China
Location is for general reference an may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
