Best of Residential Buildings
Old Summer Palace One
Designer / Agency
- VAAS（VAAS Architects Co., Ltd.）
Category
- Residential Buildings
Award
- 2024 SILVER
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PROJECT
DESCRIPTION
The Old Summer Palace One project sits 800 meters north of Beijing's Yuanmingyuan Park, nestled within the Three Mountains and Five Gardens Greenway and Hadian District’s Zhongguancun, often referred to as China’s Silicon Valley, where culture and technology converge.
The original concept behind the design was to create a residence within the mountain gardens, paying homage to Beijing's century-old tradition of mountainous retreats. This reverence for nature was woven into every aspect of the design process, from site selection and modelling to landscaping and construction.
After numerous simulations and comparisons, considering factors such as sunlight exposure, unit width, landscape resources, and land value, the plan opted to enclose the area with slab buildings along the north and south sides. This arrangement emphasizes a north-south axis, originating from the southern entrance. The central garden axis, stretching 170 meters long and comprising three courtyard sections, expands the central garden, creating a serene atmosphere. By differentiating the main axis facing south and the secondary axis facing north, the buildings seamlessly blend into the garden environment.
Inspired by ancient Chinese architectural wisdom found in texts like "Yingzao Fashi," the facade design meticulously refines traditional roof techniques. At the same time, modern materials such as stone and glass are used to craft an elegant and transparent architectural volume, delicately poised as if floating above the forest canopy
Agency: VAAS（VAAS Architects Co., Ltd.）
At the core of VAAS is an unwavering pursuit of architectural excellence that has fueled our growth since day one. From the nascent stages of China's architectural industry, we've been driven by a market-oriented, international design perspective focused on putting people first through our professionalism. Creating greater value for clients through thoughtful design is our raison d'etre. Under the guidance of our leadership team, we've assembled a full-service powerhouse of design experts with robust expertise and outstanding service delivery. Year after year, we deliver standout works for clients by maintaining strict oversight across the entire project lifecycle, never compromising on our lofty standards for architectural design. Through this disciplined, sustainable approach, VAAS has emerged as one of the most formidable and influential private architectural firms in the industry.
With over 300 projects under our belt spanning diverse styles, sectors, and scales nationwide, we blend design philosophy with specialized knowledge and cutting-edge technologies to create valuable assets. Our work aims to catalyze urban transformation, blaze new trails that elevate industry standards, and ultimately design a better future through the power of creative vision.
At VAAS, our partners work hand-in-hand to lead a full-service team singularly focused on addressing the unique local nuances and requirements of each project. While maintaining a globalized viewpoint, we strike a balance between honoring tradition and pushing innovative boundaries. We keep a finger on the pulse of urban and societal issues, continuously expanding our practice through pioneering technologies—all in pursuit of creating a cohesive workflow throughout every phase of the project.
Our firm is a multidisciplinary venture, bringing together elite talent that forms an integrated ecosystem spanning urban planning, architectural design, construction engineering, and strategic consulting. We've assembled a comprehensive brain trust with expertise across urban design, architecture, structural engineering, MEP, landscape, interiors, specialized consulting, and turnkey services. Throughout the design journey, we maintain a focus on quality control at every phase, fostering seamless collaboration between disciplines to deliver holistic solutions that ensure architectural excellence.
