Carefully selected additional layers are added to Captain's House to strength the existing structure and create more functional layout with completely modest look within the damp and erosive nature of Beijiao, China. Vector Architects renovated elegantly a seaside house suffered from the unsafety conditions of the existing structure and large-area water leakage during over 20 years of use. 

Image © Chen Hao

The Captain’s House is located on the southeast end of Huangqi Peninsula, Fujian Province and the house's basic functions were almost not working and needed to be changed or redesigned. 

The architects started to work with the study of structural reinforcement. After a series of careful comparisons, the studio decides to add a layer of 12cm concrete wall to the original brick masonry walls. This strategy created an extra potential to make a better quality of space.

Image © Xia Zhi

The intervention of the new concrete wall allowed architects to re-manipulate the layout to some extent. The architects replaced both of the original bathrooms at the first floor and the second floor from the sea-viewing side to the side close to the neighbour, so that the living room, dining room and master bedroom get not only better view but also more natural light and fresh air.

Image © Xia Zhi

Vector Architects specifically used a "window-furniture" system for the house to prevent excessive rainwater from seeping into the window from the wall surface so all the window frames on the facade stick out from the outside wall. 

Image © Chen Hao

"Window is no longer a simple opening, but serves as a medium space situating between nature and the interior space," said Vector Architects. 

"We choose vault to be the structural form of the third floor. It reduces the possibility of water leakage to an extreme for it barely allows any rainwater to stay. Vault is directional. It connects two sides of sea with dramatically different characters: one being the serene sea whereas the other one being the noisy port." 

"This added floor serves as a multifunctional living space: it accommodates visiting family and friends and functions perfectly as a gym or an activity room as well. Additionally, since the captain’s family is Christian, this space is also intended to be a family chapel," added the studio. 

Image © Chen Hao

At dusk, the gentle light comes out from the translucent glass blocks. The house gradually becomes the carrier of emotion for the captain’s family, and gives deserved dignity and decency to the daily life of ordinary people, which is particularly meaningful under the current circumstance of China.

Image © Chen Hao

Image © Chen Hao

Image © Chen Hao

Image © Chen Hao

Image © Chen Hao

Image © Chen Hao

Image © Chen Hao

Image © Chen Hao

Image © Chen Hao

Image © Chen Hao

Image © Chen Hao

Image © Chen Hao

Image © Chen Hao

Image © Chen Hao

Image © Chen Hao

Image © Chen Hao

Image © Chen Hao

Top image © Chen Hao 

> via Vector Architects