
To solve this issue, Yingxi covered the concrete shells with a row of flat triangular skylights, re-routing the flow of rainwater and facilitating the placing of drainage pipes within the structure below the skylights also introduce natural illumination, emphasizing the shape and form of the arch, and bringing a rich interplay of light and shadow onto their curved surfaces. Having raised outer sides and lowered inner sides, two challenges arose: water drainage difficulties and snow accumulation in winter.
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Village ‘Living Room’ expanded and renovatedĮxtending from the main body of the building towards its outer edge, the six groups of arched shells form a series of angular-shaped spaces next to one another.

In addition to enlarging the original five arches, the architect incorporated an arch along the wall facing the street, creating a public space adjacent to the building and providing a welcoming entrance for visitors. Taking the arched motif as a starting point, the team at SYN Architects expanded their scale on the northeast extension of the original arches, establishing a connection to form a series of trumpet-shaped volumes, with the roof and walls created by a thin, curving concrete shell structure. But the rhythmic repetition of arches inspired lead architect Zou Yingxi.

The original village committee building featured five single-story arches and porches, sloping roofs, and brick walls, previously ‘hidden’ from the villagers. Using arched motifs to expand and redefine the buildings As an extra touch, lead architect Zou Yingxi also arranged for family portraits and snapshots of villagers’ lives to be displayed in various parts of the ‘Living Room’, and founded the ‘Tiangang Zhixing Village Chronicle’ as the voice of local culture and events. To activate the building, the teamat SYN Architects introduced a model of operation previously applied in its projects, including the opening of a ‘SYN Coffee’ shop, adapted to serve residents: villagers have been employed as baristas and service personnel, and neighbors have taken the opportunity to drive villagers to the building to enjoy coffee in the parlor.Īdditionally, the building’s organization team has arranged for village children to attend courses and activities in the second floor ‘reception room’, offering them access to an education equal to that found in cities. These two projects, facing each other, lay the groundwork for the rest of the process. The Village’ Living Room’ faces the Tiangang Art Center and an art installation dubbed the ‘Big Straw Hat’. The revamping of the ‘Living Room’ retains, in total, the main structure of the original village committee building and introduces a café and children’s activity area on the upper and lower floors, respectively - creating a mix and match of programs. Among the various buildings SYN Architects has designed in China’s Tiangang Zhixing Village, the renovated cluster of structures referred to as the Village ‘Living Room’ clearly demonstrates this idea.

The village ‘living room’ given new life by syn architectsīridging the gap between pragmatism and innovation is a test for every architect taking on projects in the countryside.
