Atelier About Architecture: Residence LL is a multi-story residence located in the southwestern region of China, overlooking a beautiful, expansive lakeside view, with a building area of approximately 500 square meters, representing a residential landmark in the local urban landscape. The owners, a couple who are entrepreneurs and antique collectors, sought to create an elegant and peaceful home. Due to the unique geographical location, the original building's structural height was overly complex, spatial scale, and lighting issues were prominent. The focus of the architectural renovation was to preserve the main structural columns, reorganize the functional areas of the floor plan, and turn the entire space into an ideal canvas for living.
The architect's primary task was to address the vertical circulation within the building's defined framework, reconfiguring two staircases and an elevator core to delineate between public and private spaces. Based on the movement flow within the residence and the direction of natural light, functional spaces were either opened or enclosed to adjust their physical height and visual proportions. Transparent and semi-transparent materials were incorporated to filter and soften the light, addressing the challenge of lighting and privacy in long, narrow spaces.
The circulation spaces were concentrated to free up the functional areas, allowing the living and visual experiences to flow naturally. The open spatial form also symbolizes the dissolution of boundaries, extending the scope of architecture into field-based design, where vivid scenes naturally evoke memories. In terms of materials and craftsmanship, the architect crushed beige fine-grain veined marble as aggregate, mixing it with pebbles and pearl shells, and used a monolithic terrazzo casting process to create a textured floor with a unique visual quality.
The facades feature frosted glass bricks, natural black walnut wood, and cement. Light and materials are interwoven, creating a calming, soft, and serene atmosphere. The core of this architectural philosophy lies in approaching from a material standpoint while refocusing on the pursuit of immateriality. This allows concepts like emotions and memories to continue in the space, forming a foundational stone rooted in the site and culture, creating a tranquil place for introspection.
Atelier About Architecture
WANG Ni, architect. Born in Chengdu in 1984, WANG Ni graduated from the University of Sydney, Australia with a bachelor's and a master's degree in architecture. In 2013, she founded Atelier About Architecture, presided over the architectural and interior design and renovation projects including the headquarters of China Resources University in Xiong'an, W House, Apartment 55, The Dog House, among a few others. The atelier was successively selected in 2015, 2017 and 2019 in AD100 by Architectural Digest China. WANG Ni is committed to exploring the enlightenment on modern life from the interaction between Eastern and Western civilizations, and to extracting the beauty of everyday life to transform it into a synesthetic experience in contemporary context, so as to discuss the introvert meaning of lifestyle.
