***Xiang Farm: Hongguoshu Bistro, a record of the transformation of a rural B&B in the suburbs of Beijing

01.

***Xiang Farm: Renovation of Hongguoshu Bistro

For people living in Beijing, driving north is just one step away Within a few hours, the scene in front of me can be "greened" from the tall buildings all the way, the atmosphere of the mountains and wilds is spread all the way, and the distant mountains are getting closer and closer.

At the foot of Yanshan Mountain, Zhangjiazhuang Village in Miyun District, a village that has become increasingly “hollowed out” with urban development, has ushered in its renaissance.

General axonometric view of Zhangjiazhuang Village

The original village style and architectural form of the site are relatively intact, and the villagers’ pace of life appears leisurely against the backdrop of modern culture. This state provides a space for busy urbanites who have the vision of "seeking the wilderness" and eager to embrace the natural living atmosphere of "Walden Pond".

For architects, the possibilities for diverse development of cities and nature are hard to find, while the original countryside is a fertile ground full of hope, which is enough to reorganize the relationship between people, architecture and nature, and to Internalize and shape tradition and current local culture, turning it into visible and perceptible shapes and symbols that can penetrate into life.

The two smallest homesteads in Zhangjiazhuang Village (each covering an area of ??two and a half, about 166 square meters) have become the experimental field for architects of "spatial evolution", integrating two types of businesses: residence and business. Village renaissance. The two small courtyards are about 50 meters apart, each forming a chapter and echoing each other, forming an attraction and demonstration effect, opening up new possibilities for the overall evolution of the village space from point to area.

Living model: ***Xiang Farm Red Fruit Tree

The project is positioned as a country B&B in the suburbs of the city. This building needs to provide a completely different lifestyle for people who have lived in the city for a long time. , and at the same time need to meet the functional demands of contemporary life. From a macro perspective, this preservation and respect for rural culture and the introduction of new business models are leading a change in cultural and economic structures, shaping a lifestyle unique to the East.

Therefore, when the architect renovated and updated the original farmhouse, he fully respected the spirit of the place endowed by the rural environment and retained the spatial order of the original courtyard enclosure and the exterior texture of the building. In the courtyard, a red fruit tree that is "more than 20 years old" (the locals call a hawthorn with large fruit "red fruit", and think that the "red fruit" is not a hawthorn) has been carefully preserved, and the scene of sitting around the tree wakes up. In order to enhance people's memory of nature and their homeland, the courtyard of the farm is also called the "Red Fruit Tree" after it.

As soon as you enter the village, following the guidance of the green trees along the road, you can see the small courtyard at the foot of the mountain. From a distance, the buildings do not show off the mountains and dew, humbly accompanying the nearby farmhouses.

The layout order of traditional Chinese courtyards with screen walls to "block evil spirits" and "gather energy" has been restored in this exclusive farm. The existence of the screen wall has the property of being a memory carrier and also a memory carrier. It adds a layer of sequence to the entrance, making outside passers-by full of imagination about what is hidden in the courtyard.

The building is divided into two floors. The first floor is allocated to the public space and guest rooms, while the second floor is a complete master bedroom space, with a tea room and a large outdoor terrace. It brings a touch of life close to nature into a relatively private space.

Elevation of "Red Fruit Tree"

The original building was a wooden roof truss, which was low and dilapidated and had poor thermal insulation. In order to improve the environmental disadvantages and meet the living needs, the architect demolished the roof and part of the wall and built a new frame with concrete. Due to strict budget requirements, the dismantled tiles, wooden rafters, and wooden roof trusses were reused.

In order to realize the visual penetration and coherence of the courtyard, the architect used large-area glass as the main material for the north and south facades of the first floor. When you are indoors, you can watch the spring and autumn fruits, the morning and evening mist, and listen to the sound of rain hitting the stone floor. The crisp sound makes the natural scenery become the scenery of life.

And this kind of openness is separated from the outside of the courtyard, which fully guarantees the privacy of the living space. This is also a continuation of the introverted aesthetic of traditional residences.

In order to protect outdoor activities from rain and sun exposure, the building is equipped with a glass canopy in the south direction and uses wooden grilles to filter light. At the same time, the preservation of the gray space is a recollection of the traditional architectural form of the "wind and rain corridor", which has both functional and emotional value.

Indoors, the architect uses white as the main tone, and outdoor materials such as logs and cement extend in. The overall scenery complements the courtyard.

Every detail of furniture and ornaments retains the original texture and texture of the material, and also contains the delicacy and warmth of handicrafts, presenting a life container that is exquisite yet wild. .

Business model: Bistro

In Zhangjiazhuang Village, there is no restaurant in the whole village. If you want to eat, you can only go to another village 3 kilometers away. "Tavern" is a business form born based on catering needs. It also respects the context and texture of the site, it is the same area of ??two and a half homesteads, and it is also the renovation of an old farmhouse. The "Tavern" is more public than the "Red Fruit Tree".

The courtyard wall facing the street is made of bricks and stones, forming a completely different texture from the plain concrete of the building wall, creating the most intuitive attraction. There are no adjacent buildings except on the north side of the building. Taking advantage of this advantage, the architect regarded the building as a "viewing machine" and set up windows at the best viewing positions on the facade to allow all the distant and near scenery to be "pictured".

Bistro elevation

In order to meet the sense of scale and flexibility of use that a commercial property space should have, the architect raised the main building facing south to two floors and made Full-height treatment to accommodate indoor dining activities.

The "corridor space" continues from the "red fruit tree" to meet the needs of semi-outdoor dining.

In the courtyard, sofas and chairs with warm woven textures create an atmosphere of gathering. The green plants, bamboos and stone walls growing wildly in the cement flower beds are the close-up view, and the low mountains and blue sky are the distant view. , making the dining atmosphere more "original".

The original wooden roof trusses of the building were replaced by concrete that is more suitable for structure and function. The old materials that were dismantled were used to repair the remaining building parts.

The beams, columns, purlins, and old walls have all been restored to their original forms, becoming the awakening of memories - the collision and dialogue between the wisdom of traditional residential construction and the architectural language of contemporary civilization make everyone who comes to the tavern feel Everyone was impressed.

In addition to the main functions, supporting functions for catering are also indispensable. Unlike ordinary restaurants, the taste of the countryside may require a stay to savor.

Therefore, in addition to the main dining space, there are also three small guest rooms and a master bedroom. Each room has a window facing the courtyard, where you can live, sit and sleep among the bamboo shadows. I hope that the residents of the city will be happy to come here for a delicacy, a scenery, and a kind of life, and enjoy a breather and rest before setting off.

Go to the countryside!

"Red Fruit Tree" and "Tavern" are two half-divided courtyards, with two business possibilities.

In addition to attracting foreign visitors and promoting the new economy, these two small courtyards formed by the accumulation of local culture are like a mirror for local residents to see themselves in, subtly inspiring them to re-recognize their territorial and cultural values. , providing a new choice for career choice and living space creation. The protection of natural ecology and the continuation of traditional culture and folk arts depend on this new movement towards the countryside.

General plan

"Red Fruit Tree" plan

"Red Fruit Tree" section plan

"Tavern" plan

"Tavern" section view