located in yangshan village in guangxi province, china, ‘the southern yard’ by architectural firm AA.Lab is a children’s school and workshop created by converting and expanding a traditional chinese cottage. the picturesque village is nestled into the valley of a karst mountain landscape, but despite its seemingly isolated nature was dramatically transformed as part of a local reconstruction project aimed at contemporizing the village. under the project almost every old house was entirely rebuilt, leaving only a single cottage standing that was constructed using the cob brick methods that were indigenous to the area.

AA.Lab revives a traditional cob brick cottage, the last of its kind in yangshan village
the village was dramatically transformed as part of a local reconstruction project
all images by arch-exist photography

 

 

having stood for over 60 years and survived a number of renovations by its owner, the house was in a considerable state of disrepair, standing out noticeably from its modern neighbors. with the help of preservationists the cottage was saved from destruction, and the integral structure of the building was saved. its eventual transformation by AA.Lab into ‘the southern yard’ became a study in preserving the sole memorial of the village’s architectural history. in their design, the team built a completely new structure beside the building, a tasteful, modern companion to the house that would serve as an extension of both form and function. 

AA.Lab revives a traditional cob brick cottage, the last of its kind in yangshan village
having stood for over 60 years and survived a number of renovations the original was in noticeable disrepair

 

 

leaving the original gable wall of the house untouched, the new structure is comprised mainly of glass, a material that could both protect and expose the traditional adobe bricks of its neighbor. as a result of the various construction projects carried out over the years, the internal walls of the original building were interlaced and cramped. removing these, AA.Lab preserved the shell of the cottage while adding some much needed space to the confined structure. steel supports and brick walls support a new roof and stabilize the dilapidated gable wall. workers rebuilt a collapsed exterior wall with cob bricks, salvaged from dismantled internal walls. in this way, AA.Lab’s design speaks to the architectural programs of both buildings, merging traditional and contemporary construction methods in a single cohesive complex.

AA.Lab revives a traditional cob brick cottage, the last of its kind in yangshan village
the original cob-brick walls are preserved using traditional methods

 

 

the main structure of the new house is made from high strength bamboo fiber composites, which are as slender and warm as wood. the space is punctuated by a number of courtyards, with glass frames inviting stunning views into the building. in a nod to the village’s history, a traditionally constructed cob-brick wall is installed on the kitchen side of the building, corresponding with the textures of the original cottage. these two walls, reflective of each other, will age in tandem as part of a visible conversation between the old and new, the classical and contemporary. ‘the south yard’ is the last old building of sanjia village. it is both witness to and bears the mark of the village’s transition through history, and encourages thoughtful preservation through traditional methods.

AA.Lab revives a traditional cob brick cottage, the last of its kind in yangshan village
the house is now used as a children’s school and workshop space

AA.Lab revives a traditional cob brick cottage, the last of its kind in yangshan village
the frame of the new building is made from high strength bamboo fiber composites

AA.Lab revives a traditional cob brick cottage, the last of its kind in yangshan village
the plan is punctuated by a number of interior courtyards

AA.Lab revives a traditional cob brick cottage, the last of its kind in yangshan village
the new complex both witnesses and bears the mark of the village’s transition through history

 

drawingsAA.Lab revives a traditional cob brick cottage, the last of its kind in yangshan villageAA.Lab revives a traditional cob brick cottage, the last of its kind in yangshan village

AA.Lab revives a traditional cob brick cottage, the last of its kind in yangshan villageAA.Lab revives a traditional cob brick cottage, the last of its kind in yangshan village

project info:

 

client: chuanlan investment
architects: mu wei,advanced architecture lab(aal); zhou chao,atelier upa

location: sanjia, guangxi province, china
structure: steel, glued bamboo
area: 340 sqm

year: 2016

photography: arch-exist photography

 

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: peter corboy | designboom