Shenzhen-based Aether Architects, led by Zelin Huang, has converted an old village house into a local hostel located in the eastern part of Shenzhen seaside at GuanWu, China. Named as ARTINN, the hostel offers other functional units, including a Café, Art Gallery, Book Bar, a flexi-outdoor rooftop theater space and eight guest rooms for accommodation.

While transforming it into a giant scaffolded work, the architect used cracked and deformed structure walls of the existing house to renovate this hostel, emerged as a particular demand of the client as he was a native villager.

''ARTINN is not only a commercial hostel, but a place that could offer a co-sharing space for both local villagers and visitors,'' said the architect. 

''As to achieve the design goal of the client, while realizing the fundamental needs to reinforce the entire structure to strengthen the deformed architecture. Aether Architects adopt the design principle of originality.''

The architect applied the "Structural Reinforcement Concept" to shape the total design of the building, while fulfilling the Mechanical requirement, so the structure recreated a new shape of the building with an interface of urban space. 

''We use the raw truss structure concept to develop a series of small structures units to knit and wrap over the original building, to create a new shape and architectural space,'' added Zelin Huang.

The existence of the new structure as a transparent building between the original building and the external environment that glued the two together, then formed the cascading architecture and scenery of the site. The new structure is an artificial free space for public to exchange, use and enjoy.

The design of Aether Architects believes in architecture blended with landscape, but not landscape isolated from architecture. The project design enables people to use the space with the feeling of mingling in the nature, like in a forest. 

Walking from the courtyard to the building, you will find the glimmering ground to the hazy reflection of the ceiling; the architecture is enlightened by the intercalation of space and landscape, where an infinite natural scenery was formed.

Site plan

Floor plans

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All images © Chao Zhang

> via Aether Architects