‘villa jian’ by CU office, yantai, china image © brando posocco all images courtesy of CU office

beijing-based CU office has recently completed the ‘villa jian’, an office and exhibition space in yantai, china. derived from a local architectural building component, this construct is comprised of 11 ‘jian’, both a traditional unit of measurement and self-supporting structure spanning 3.3 meters wide by 3.6 meters tall. a partially open and closed display space is housed under the single gable roof, separating the interior into a private and common areas. the public exhibition is positioned on the ground floor while the upper floor is reserved for the secluded exhibition and workroom.

an X-form is implemented in plan and section to link the functions and levels. doubling as seating, wide steps intersect to create a centralized stair hall with many uses including circulation, performances and social gathering. a diverse range of activities are encouraged within the program, supporting the concept of the building.

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 2 exterior view image © brando posocco

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 3 side elevation image © brando posocco

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 4 view from adjacent context image © brando posocco

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 5approach to building image © brando posocco

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 6 side elevation image © brando posocco

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 7 image © brando posocco

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 8 image © brando posocco

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 9 facade detail mage © brando posocco

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 10 entry image © brando posocco

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 11 image © brando posocco

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 12 nterior image © brando posocco

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 13 upper level image © brando posocco

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 14 image © brando posocco

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 15 upward view of skylights image © brando posocco

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 16 dappled daylight enters through overhead skylights image © brando posocco

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 17 dappled light illuminates the interior image © brando posocco

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 18 images © brando posocco

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 19 image © brando posocco

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 20 images © brando posocco

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 21 at night image © brando posocco

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 22 floor plan / level 0

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 23 floor plan / level 1

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 24 section

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 25 elevation

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 26 elevation

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 27 section detail

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 28 exploded axonometric

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 29 axonometric

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 30 structural diagram

CU office: villa jian, yantai - 31 concept diagram

project info:

project description: private office project location: yantai, shangdong province, china client: private
 site area: 10,000 m2
 building area: 1000m2
 design: 2011
 completion: 2012
 chief designer: che fei, zhang xuefeng design team: zhao chao, li huihui, zhang xin, cui jingyi, zeng yilan, chang yue
 architectural photography: brando posocco