CPLUS reimagines courtyard living with earth-toned mother’s house in rural beijing

named in honor of the women who nurture life, the residence by CPLUS features a 1:1 ratio of building to courtyard.

Nan LI edited by thomai tsimpou August 9, 2024 4 min

CPLUS reimagines rural living with mother’s house

CPLUS Architects reveals Mother’s House, a residence designed as a response to the challenges of rural revitalization, aiming to integrate modern family life into a countryside setting. Located in Xiying Village, southwest of Beijing, the project reimagines rural living by including traditional architectural elements in a contemporary vocabulary. Named in honor of the women who nurture life, the house, with its 1:1 ratio of building to courtyard, reflects the Chinese cultural balance between the inside and the outside, where both spaces are equally valued. The studio prioritizes natural light abundance, privacy, and family cohesion through a V-shaped roof, a full-height atrium, and earth-toned materials that blend into the rural district.

CPLUS reimagines courtyard living with earth-toned mother's house in rural beijing - 1 — all images by Liu Jing and Zhu Yumeng, courtesy of CPLUS

a beijing residence articulated around a full-height atrium

The spatial layout conceived by CPLUS divides the courtyard-inspired Mother’s House into three sections that balance communal and private areas. Near the main street, the east side hosts the kitchen and dining spaces, which are lively and connected to the outdoors. The central atrium serves as a communal living area, while the quieter west side houses the bedrooms and bathrooms. Dedicated to mothers, the design is particularly mindful of the elderly. Additionally, the Chinese studio incorporates ramps instead of stairs, ensuring all essential functions are accessible on the ground floor.

CPLUS reimagines courtyard living with earth-toned mother's house in rural beijing - 2 — CPLUS Architects reveals Mother’s House in Beijing

The atrium’s transparent glass wall invites the courtyard’s natural beauty indoors, connecting the family with the surrounding landscape. Materiality plays a crucial role in the project, with the use of brick, stone, wood, and metal creating a textured, earthy palette that resonates with the rural setting. Meanwhile, the V-shaped roof is crafted to optimize light and maintain a harmonious proportion within the village context. It gently slopes outward, creating a silhouette that respects the neighboring homes. Completing the design are high and bay windows that enhance the flow of light, casting a natural glow throughout the day and enriching living spaces with warmth and vibrancy.

CPLUS reimagines courtyard living with earth-toned mother's house in rural beijing - 3 — aiming to integrate modern family life into a countryside setting

CPLUS reimagines courtyard living with earth-toned mother's house in rural beijing - 4 — rural living blends with traditional architectural elements in a contemporary context

cplus-beijing-courtyard-living-earth-toned-countryside-residence-designboom-1800-02 — Mother’s House by CPLUS is named in honor of the women who nurture life

CPLUS reimagines courtyard living with earth-toned mother's house in rural beijing - 5 — reflecting the Chinese cultural balance between the inside and the outside

CPLUS reimagines courtyard living with earth-toned mother's house in rural beijing - 6 — a V-shaped roof, a full-height atrium, and earth-toned materials blend into the rural district

CPLUS reimagines courtyard living with earth-toned mother's house in rural beijing - 7 — the design prioritizes natural light abundance, privacy, and family cohesion

CPLUS reimagines courtyard living with earth-toned mother's house in rural beijing - 8 — CPLUS divides the home into three sections that balance communal and private areas

cplus-beijing-courtyard-living-earth-toned-countryside-residence-designboom-1800-01 — near the main street, the east side hosts the kitchen and dining spaces

CPLUS reimagines courtyard living with earth-toned mother's house in rural beijing - 9 — the quieter west side houses the bedrooms and bathrooms

CPLUS reimagines courtyard living with earth-toned mother's house in rural beijing - 10 — dedicated to mothers, the design is particularly mindful of the elderly

project info:

name: Mother’s House
architect: CPLUS, Cheng Yanchun, Li Nan
lead designer: Cheng Yanchun
design team: Bo Chen, Liu Xiaoguang, Zhou Kefan
location: Beijing, China
area: 144.2 sqm
photographer: Liu Jing, Zhu Yumeng
video: Niang Film Studio

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