Client:Zhejiang Vanke Narada Real Estate Group Co.Ltd
Gross Floor Area:145,878m2
Design Architect:David Chipperfield Architects
Structural Engineer:ZheJiang Industry Design and Research Institute
Services Engineer:Zhejiang Industry Design and Research Institute
Landscape Design:Levin Monsigny Landschaftsarchiteckten

Bailujun is a residential district of a new town, Liangzhu Cultural Village, located two hours drive from Shanghai. The district is situated on a plain between a range of hills to the west and a river to the east. The urban motif of the design has been developed from China’s prevailing residential structures of north-south oriented housing rows and the rural tradition of architecture placed on stone bases. Fourteen islands of residential blocks are located on the plain between the road and the riverbank.

By turning the residential blocks slightly from one another, flowing public spaces are created, thus integrating the landscape into the district. Each individual block incorporates eight 3- to 5-storey apartment buildings, forming a coherent complex placed on a common base and creating structured and clearly legible neighbourhoods. Each block contains approximately 60 apartments. The stone base, which accommodates a common garage and forms a second, private garden level, is integrated into the landscape. The buildings placed on this base form a central courtyard, providing the apartments with an attractive view into the leafy garden and reinforcing their relationship with nature.

The height of the buildings and their position on the base vary. Wide open-air staircases cut into the base provide the main access and introduce a degree of permeability to the block. All rooms in the apartments have storey-high doors and French windows, thus creating flowing spaces within the apartments themselves and between the interior and exterior.

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