A DAILY ROUTINE AS A FORMGIVING PARAMETER
The age-defining rings of a tree stump provided the starting point for this small round house, planned for a wood-carving artist in Beijing. Named House O, in reference to its circular shape, the house is designed to provide the client with both a home and a workspace, tailored precisely to suit his daily routine. This routine is, in a very direct way, translated into the program of the house, which expresses its outer appearance as well. The two-story building will feature a central courtyard, creating a doughnut-shaped plan that arches upwards along one edge. The lowest level of the building will be submerged underground. A staircase wrapping the courtyard will connect the two storeies, which trace a route through the occupant¡¯s daily activities. The circulation and overall program are arranged along a spiral, leading from a basement with a breakfast area to the highest level, which contains a bedroom.
The arched edge will help to bring natural light down into the basement, as well as raise the bedroom up half a story above the ground-floor living room. The lifted part faces southward and inhabits the master bedroom, offering a great view over the yard. The house will be located on a newly defined plot in the garden of an existing property. Exterior walls will be glazed, screened behind wooden louvres that protect the interior from direct sunlight. A hedge is also proposed around the perimeter of the building, offering an extra degree of privacy.
PROJECTNAME：House O
PROJECTLOCATION：Beijing
PROJECTSIZE：100㎡
PROJECTTYPE：Architecture
PROJECTYEAR：2013
DESIGNCOMPANY：pendan China
DESIGNER：Sun Dayong、Chris Precht
PROJECTTEAM：Quan He
