all images © Simon Menges / courtesy of David Chipperfield Architects

David Chipperfield Architects completes Xixi Wetland Estate development in Hangzhou- the project is a national wetland park located on the outskirts of Hangzhou, is a built landscape and an area of nature, which has been shaped by man for over a thousand years. The omnipresent relationship between landscape, architecture, and water is key to the atmosphere in Xixi. This atmosphere has been integrated into a new development of apartment buildings. The project started in 2007 and completed in eight years.

the project is located in full of green surrounded by natural environment

The apartment buildings are surrounded by a water garden, which, as a reference to the wetland park, is a mostly wild landscape. In contrast to these green surroundings, the buildings appear as dark stone volumes embedded in the water garden.

They are, as is typical for villages in Xixi, placed on a stone plinth that sits in the water. This plinth forms the base of a village group with various levels, walls, and balustrades creating a sequence of exterior spaces, which enable access to the buildings. The interiors are characterised by floating spaces. Room height windows allow for natural light and views over the water garden.

the low-rise buildings form a contrast with green

interior the building looks to the nature

Project Facts

Date: 2007–2015
Gross floor area: 11,800 m²
Client: Hangzhou Westbrook Investment Co. Ltd.
Architect: David Chipperfield Architects Berlin, Shanghai
Design: Mark Randel – Partner
Project management: Libin Chen – Partner
Project architects: Ilona Priwitzer, Manh Kinh Tran, Sascha Jung, Samson Adjei
Contact architect: ECADI (East China Architecture and Design Institute)
Landscape architect: Belt & Collins
Structural engineer: ECADI
Services engineer: ECADI
Project management: Hangzhou Westbrook Investment Co. Ltd.

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