Vertical Courtyard Apartments

This group of buildings is located at the entrance of the city from the airport. There are six nearly one hundred meter high buildings, for eight hundred residents. Each second floor there is a double high “courtyard” in the sky, conceptually reminding the folding of a bamboo mat. The elevation of the towers looks as if it was a vertical / horizontal turn of a traditional town in south China. Every resident, no matter on which height will have the chance to enjoy a courtyard of his own and will have the illusion of living on the second floor. I insist that if the experimental architecture in China is not practiced in the most massive architectural activity, namely large collective housings, the result will be narcissist and pale.

Architects: WANG Shu

Company of Scheme Design: “Amateur” Architecture Studio

Design Period: 2001 - 2003

Construction Period: 2004 - 2006

Location: Hangzhou

Total Floor Area: About 120.000 m2

Structure Type: Reinforced Concrete Framework