Location: Aranya, China.

Architect: META-Project.

A new beach house has been built in Aranya, Qinhuangdao, China, which has become a popular destination for the new middle-class to pursue a “quality holiday resort” lifestyle. The house is located in a prime position within steps to the beach and takes in sweeping views of the sea without any obstruction. The previous building had a footprint running west-east towards the sea and stretching to the south, which was redesigned to maximize the sea view while blocking out the summer sun. The existing on-site structure was reclaimed and altered to add a shorter wing on the south side to allow an open-plan for more living spaces. The house has an abundance of strategically located large windows, providing abundant daylight, minimizing the need for lighting. The ground floor is fully open-planned throughout with semi-outdoor vestibule, kitchen, dining, and library. The generous heights of the living room give a feeling of openness and airiness which embraces the views of sea and sky. The House T’s north façade is reconfigured with two volumes interlocking together: a thickened white T-shape cast-in-concrete wall sitting on a dark layered schist rock plinth. Majority of the building materials were locally sourced, particularly the rock strips for the ground floor extending from exterior into the interior. The House T is intended to provide a myriad of atmospheres defined by the spectrum of natural environment and communal life which characterizes the entire setting of the site.

Photo credit: SONG YU MING, HIROMATSU MISAE / RUIJING PHOTOGRAPHY.