Shanghai-based architecture studio ZJJZ Architecture Practice has completed a mushroom-formed wood house in a pine forest of Jiangxi, China. 

Named The Mushroom - a wood house in the forest, the structure is located in a pine forest of Jiangxi, creating the relationship between nature and the architecture - which is the essential approach of ZJJZ Architecture Practice.

Image © Fangfang Tian

Covering a 50-square-metre area, the wood house is composed of two simple volumes. The main part forms the mushroom itself and is used for a guest room space, with a panoramic window set up near the viewing height. 

When sitting on chairs or leaning on the bed, the guests are immersed in the surrounding nature. 

The loft serves as a child area, linked by the small-scale stairs. The pure white cone-shaped roof is rounded on top, creating a sense of unbounded extension to the space.

Image © Fangfang Tian

The bathroom and storage space are arranged in a simple rectangular volume, which is inserted into the main body of the Mushroom. 

A horizontal window is designed next to the bathtub, avoiding the view from pedestrian path to ensure privacy, while bringing nature into the space. 

Meanwhile, the circular skylight at the top introduces different expressions of light and shadows with the change of time and weather. This poetic space also serves as the entrance lobby of the house, where the guests often visit and linger. 

Image © Fangfang Tian

The Mushroom house is raised on a steel structure to minimize the impact of construction on the site. "As time goes by, green plants on the ground will gradually spread to embrace the building," said ZJJZ Architecture Practice.

Featuring a cone-shape roof, the roof is clad in pine woods, while the rest of the house is coated with granolithic concrete. The material changes in color with humidity and time, allowing the building to harmonize with the surrounding natural environment.

Image © Fangfang Tian

Roof plan

Loft plan

Room plan

Section

ZJJZ was founded by Sean Shen, Xuanru Chen and Yu-ying Tsai in Shanghai. ZJJZ Architecture Practice previously designed triangular hotel cabins on a hillside of the remote village of Tuanjie in China.

Project facts

Project name: The Mushroom - a wood house in the forest

Architect’s Firm: ZJJZ

Lead Architects: Sean Shen, Xuanru Chen, Yuying Kate Tsai

Project location: Jiangxi, China

Completion Year: 2020

Gross Built Area (square meters or square foot): 50 m2 

Client: TREE WOW 

Structure Consultant: XIE Technologies 

Contractor: Zhejiang Huzhou deyi Construction Co., Ltd.

All images © ZJJZ unless otherwise stated.

All drawings © ZJJZ

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