Designed by META-Project, A new beach house has recently been completed in Aranya, Qinhuangdao, China. Qinhuangdao, with its geographic reason as having the nearest beach, is known as the most populous city for millions of people from Beijing and Tianjin to enjoy their summer holidays. Yet an-hour drive down south from the massive crowd, a small town – Aranya, for its serene beach environment and great community engagement, in the last 5 years has become the destination for the new middle-class, to pursue a “quality holiday resort” lifestyle?and ideal location for beach houses.
Photography: RUIJING Photography
Located in a prime position within steps to the beach, this site not only takes in a sweeping view of the sea without any obstruction but also well enhanced by the pitched-roof?spiritual center? of the Aranya Chapel.
While we were asked by the client to redesign a new house to fit its wonderful setting, we thought the previous building that had a footprint running west-east towards the sea and stretching to the south has a potential to orient the house to maximize the sea view while blocking out the summer sun. Thereafter, we reclaimed and altered the existing on-site structure to add a shorter wing on the south side to allow an open-plan for more living spaces. In a sustainable way, we re-create a new spatial experience that flows “through” the building, which engages people with the surrounding of this prime site as one moves through t...