Jinhai

Pinggu, China
Concept Design

To occupy one of the steepest sites in this development on the shores of Jinhai Lake, the villa employs a very simple structural system. By bundling three cantilevered volumes, as in a cartesian joint, the residence maintains structural integrity and is able to reach out to the lake’s edge to take advantage of the beautiful views. Also, with the villa’s circulation based in the vertical volume, access to the water, which would be very difficult with a standard hillside design, is only a few meters away.

The cantilevers are not only secured structurally, but are also bundled together spatially through view and light cores. They are then braced diagonally, giving the segments additional support while enlarging the interior spaces. Finally, the volumes are sculpted with smooth transitions that lift the spaces upward and outward toward the light and views.