The design is based on a real project by Atelier Li Xinggang for three types of residential buildings for conference attendees at Beijing Conference Center. These buildings form a garden-like public space, which is why the project is called “Garden within a Garden.” In urban design, the strategy is to connect the waters on the east and west sides of the site. A landscape strip is designed along the east-west axis to link outdoor public spaces, using the flowing water shapes to create a natural connection between the areas.

walking path on a sloped roof
The walking path transforms the rooftop into an open viewing space for the entire site, creating a connected system with the public spaces of the apartments.

the Chinese restaurant on the first floor
The folded plate structure of the sloped roof, rotated based on the module, is positioned on top of an orthogonal grid of walls and columns.

The northern corridor space narrows and opens up, containing many small resting areas. Residents on each floor can access the semi-outdoor public spaces for activities. The doors on the north can be opened, connecting the triangular terrace with the interior as one integrated space.

The spindle-shaped pilasters are non-structural elements, hinting at a structural box formed by auxiliary spaces, with cantilevered structures extending to both sides.

HIERARCHY OF PUBLIC SPACE

STRUCTURAL SCHEMES

The inner courtyard guides the flow of people into the site and directs them to the public functions on the first floor. The staircase makes good use of the rooftop with a great view, while strengthening the connection between the various public spaces. The public spaces range from the most public pedestrian walkways within the site to the most private living rooms inside the guest rooms, gradually blending together to form a hierarchical public space system.

The two auxiliary walls and the guest room’s partition wall form the structural core of the residence, meeting at the ridges of the sloped roof. Concrete folded slabs, combined with the roof’s counterbeam and interior cables, ensure overall structural stability. The northern corridor is supported by cantilever beams. The southern guest rooms are supported by partition walls and the separating components of the windows, which are under tension.