curving eaves top chinese residence’s courtyards and sky-well volumes by xian architects

sky-wells and shaded eaves create a dynamic play of shadow and air.

xiānArchitect edited by christina vergopoulou September 26, 2025 4 min

No. 8 House by Xian Architects engages with historic traditions

Located in Dongnan Village near Shaxi Old Town in Dali, Yunnan, China, No. 8 House is a residential project by Xian Architects. The design engages with the region’s historic context, where traditional Bai settlements and community rituals continue to shape everyday life. The house references the Kuige Stage in nearby Sideng Street, a historic wooden structure with expansive eaves that define its spatial character. Drawing from this precedent, the architects introduced curving eaves on the residence’s terraces, corridors, and rooftop parapets. These elements provide shade in Dali’s sunlit basin while establishing a visual dialogue with the local architectural heritage.

The spatial organization is centered on a series of courtyards and sky-well volumes. Two vertical towers, a Sundial Tower and a Book Tower, anchor the composition, functioning as contemporary interpretations of traditional sky-wells that bring natural light, wind, and rain into the interior. These voids, combined with the house’s upturned eaves and open courtyards, create a dynamic interplay of shadow, air, and weather, integrating the rhythms of the environment into daily living.

curving eaves top chinese residence’s courtyards and sky-well volumes by xian architects - 1 — all images by Liu Guowei, Xia Zhi

Open courtyards invite wind, rain, and shadow into daily routine

The ground-level courtyard connects the main living spaces, which include a living room, dining area, yoga and meditation room, master suite, and six guest rooms. The rear garden accommodates functional and recreational spaces such as storage, a wine cellar, a drying area, a woodworking workshop, and an outdoor campsite. Xian Architects’ team follows material and formal strategies that emphasize continuity between interior and exterior. The layout frames transitional conditions between open and enclosed zones, supporting both collective and individual activities. The design focuses on orchestrating relationships between time, space, and atmosphere, where architecture acts as a medium to engage with the surrounding landscape and climate.

Through its combination of sky-wells, courtyards, and shading elements, No. 8 House explores how architecture can mediate between traditional typologies and contemporary living requirements. The project reflects a design approach rooted in everyday life while situating the residence within a broader cultural and environmental continuum.

curving eaves top chinese residence’s courtyards and sky-well volumes by xian architects - 2 — No. 8 House by Xian Architects stands in Dongnan Village near Shaxi Old Town

curving eaves top chinese residence’s courtyards and sky-well volumes by xian architects - 3 — the residence engages with the historic traditions of Bai settlements

curving eaves top chinese residence’s courtyards and sky-well volumes by xian architects - 4 — curved eaves reference the Kuige Stage in nearby Sideng Street

curving eaves top chinese residence’s courtyards and sky-well volumes by xian architects - 5 — courtyards and sky-well volumes structure the organization of the house

curving eaves top chinese residence’s courtyards and sky-well volumes by xian architects - 6 — expansive overhangs provide shade in Dali’s bright, highland basin

no-8-house-xian-architects-dali-yunnan-china-designboom-1800-2 — the Sundial Tower acts as a vertical sky-well for light and air

curving eaves top chinese residence’s courtyards and sky-well volumes by xian architects - 7 — a Book Tower introduces natural elements into the interior spaces

curving eaves top chinese residence’s courtyards and sky-well volumes by xian architects - 8 — natural light and ventilation shape the atmosphere of the interiors

curving eaves top chinese residence’s courtyards and sky-well volumes by xian architects - 9 — design strategies mediate between tradition and contemporary living

no-8-house-xian-architects-dali-yunnan-china-designboom-1800-3 — No. 8 House reflects everyday life within a cultural and environmental continuum

sky-wells and shaded eaves create a dynamic play of shadow and air material choices emphasize continuity between interior and exterior transitional spaces balance openness with enclosure

project info:

name: No. 8 House in Dongnan Village
architect: Xian Architects | @xian.architects

location: Shaxi, Dali, Yunnan, China

land area: 990 sqm

gross built area: 733 sqm

lead architects: Wang Yanshi, Bai He

design team: Dong Zhiyuan, Liu Yifeng, Zhou Mengzheng

engineering: Gao Xuemei

structural designer: Li Ping

photographers: Liu Guowei, Xia Zhi

video: Liu Guowei

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