four interwoven gabled wings outline chaoffice's house of cross in beijing

single-story House of Cross is configured in a cross-shaped plan

Located in Tongzhou, Beijing, House of Cross is a single-story residence designed by chaoffice to accommodate multi-generational living while integrating work and domestic space. In response to local building codes, which restrict eave heights to under three meters, the house adopts a low, horizontally oriented profile that aligns with the surrounding village typology. The structure is configured in a cross-shaped plan, with four wings extending from a central core and terminating in individual rooms designated for different family members and guests. This layout supports both shared and independent functions, balancing spatial proximity and separation.

The plan emphasizes continuity with the surrounding courtyard. To maintain the proportions of the main open space, side wings were consolidated and repositioned away from the perimeter, forming a secondary rear courtyard. The main hall, originally facing north, was shifted southward to create a backyard. These adjustments allow each wing to receive daylight from both sides and establish uninterrupted visual connections across the central courtyard. The architectural massing is characterized by extended gabled rooflines that reach toward the site boundaries. At the structural level, elements recede toward the ridge line, while shear wall cores act as central anchors. This allows the perimeter facades to remain flexible, reducing the number of visible load-bearing elements. The design facilitates a gradual visual transition from interior to courtyard, with sightlines that overlap between spaces and extend across the site.

all images by Yumeng Zhu – Coppak Studio

chaoffice reinterprets courtyard living through a modern lens

The design team at chaoffice decided to lower the eaves to 2.4 meters to moderate interior heat gain by limiting vertical glazing and to create a defined spatial edge. This gesture establishes a sheltered condition along the perimeter, mediating between interior and exterior environments. Internally, the central spine accommodates public functions such as circulation and gathering, while the terminal rooms provide quieter, private areas. The cross-shaped layout enables efficient zoning, and the recessed structural cores and cantilevered roof system allow for open, column-free perimeter zones.

Material choices and construction strategies respond to the rural context, with the outer facades remaining opaque and introverted. The only external-facing elevation belongs to one of the terminal volumes. An entrance sequence transitions from a semi-outdoor area under a sloped roof to an interior defined by stepped brickwork along the site’s natural gradient. Rather than replicating traditional forms, the design addresses climatic adaptability, spatial permeability, and domestic routines. It interprets the courtyard house as a spatial framework responsive to contemporary patterns of living while remaining grounded in its physical and regulatory context.

cross-shaped plan organizes the house into four distinct wings

gabled rooflines extend toward site boundaries, defining the massing

the structure remains low-profile in response to local height regulations

opaque outer facades maintain privacy and respond to rural context

recessed structural cores support the cantilevered roof system

the courtyard remains visually open from all interior angles

main hall is shifted south to create a dedicated backyard

perimeter conditions create sheltered zones along interior edges

column-free edges enhance openness between inside and out

interior zoning supports multigenerational living and working

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project info:

name: House of Cross
architect: chaoffice | @chaoffice

location: Tongzhou, Beijing, China

area: 334 sqm

lead architects: Cheng Zhi

design team: Shao Jinrui

manufacturers: Dongfanggang Wood Industry, Jingchi, Nvc Lighting

engineering: Gao Xuemei

collaborator: Zhang Youjiang

client: Feng Fenggang

photographer: Yumeng Zhu – Coppak Studio | @Yumeng_Zhu_coppakstudio

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom