Project
House of Borrowed Scenery

Category 
Best Implemented Project of Private Residence

About the project (provided by the applicant)
‌"House of Borrowed Scenery"‌ revitalizes a 97 sq.m hutong dwelling in Beijing’s old city through ‌"spatial acupuncture"‌. Facing light deprivation and echo issues, the design reimagines the cramped courtyard by ‌capturing a 120-year-old pagoda tree 32m south‌ as a living centerpiece.
‌Key Interventions‌:
‌1.Borrowed Landscape‌: Lowered southern roof by 1.2m to frame the ancient tree; circular skylights refract its shadows onto interior walls.
‌2.Hybrid Structures‌: Preserved Ming-era northern building while replacing the southern imitation-wood framework with modular spaces.
3‌.Material Dialogue‌: Recycled gray bricks form star-lit pathways; bamboo-carbon fiber partitions filter light.
‌Outcome‌: A 37% perceived space expansion and 62% reduced artificial lighting, proving ‌micro-renovations can awaken historical contexts‌.

Location
No. 55 Zhuzhong Hutong, Gulou West Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, China

Project implementation year
2024

Extra visual materials
https://www.archdaily.com/1027610/house-of-borrowed-scenery-atelier-jingjing

Applicant
Atelier JingJing / Jingzhe Cui

Authors of the project
Atelier JingJing / Jingzhe Cui

Photo
Weiqi Jin

Other participants
Mr Rongsheng Chen Construction Team

Status of the project
Implemented

2025 USERS’ ONLINE VOTING IS COMPLETED.

Premio del Pubblico (People’s Choice) finalists, the absolute winner and winners in the categories will be announced on November 21, 2025.

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