line+ studio: Winner of International Residential Architecture Awards 2025. “A good home shelters the body; but more importantly, anchors the spirits.”

In the highly homogenized landscape of contemporary real estate development, the “spirit of place” is often overshadowed by the speed of urbanization. Hangzhou Century City—an emerging district driven primarily by the tech industry—has rapidly expanded under the logics of efficiency and standardization, often at the expense of cultural expression.

Background & Intent: Reclaiming the City’s Cultural Root

Located at a pivotal site within this district, the project seeks to reconnect with Hangzhou’s cultural root, drawing from local archetypes such as misty Jiangnan landscapes, Liangzhu jade culture, and the aesthetics of tea. Through an experiential and perceptible spatial language, the design re-establishes a culturally distinctive residential prototype within this technology-oriented new town.

Community Composition: A Three-Dimensional Living and Social System

The project establishes a three-dimensional spatial system that mediates fluidly between public and private realms. Elevated platforms and a multifunctional “holographic podium” host diverse programs—social, recreational, communal—within the upper clusters. In contrast, the lower clusters feature private courtyards, emphasizing domestic ritual and tranquility. Across both zones, rooftop gardens enable nature to permeate vertically through the community, integrating greenery into daily life.

Spatial Atmosphere: A Contemporary Translation of Jiangnan Poetics

The main entrance is conceived as a contemporary Jiangnan screen, with pale jade-like stone panels capturing the soft radiance of southern landscapes. An overhead fan-shaped element guides wind into the courtyard and channels water into the scene, symbolizing the flow of natural forces. The bronze gate, inspired by the surging Qiantang tide, freezes a moment of dynamic motion, transforming homecoming into a cultural ritual.

Following principles of classical Chinese gardens, the inner courtyard revolves around the imagery of “jade emerging from stone,” creating an immersive, sequence-based spatial experience that extends cultural memory into daily life.

Façade Expression: Contemporary Craftsmanship with Eastern Roots

The façade is inspired by the motif of “spring buds,” featuring a light green palette accentuated by deeper tones along the eaves and window frames, forming a gradient reminiscent of early spring tea leaves.

A contemporary reinterpretation of the crackle-glazed ceramic rods from Song Dynasty imperial kilns introduces handcrafted tactility into the building’s otherwise rational geometry, balancing modernity with cultural depth.

Conclusion:Cultural Value Beyond Form-Making As the concluding development of Century City, Aobo Tianjun’s significance lies not in formal exuberance but in its ability to restore cultural belonging within a technology-driven urban context. The project proposes a new possibility for contemporary urban dwelling—where luxury is defined not by material accumulation but by resonance with a millennia-old cultural lineage.

Project Details:-
Firm
line+ studio

Architect
Zhu Peidong

Project Name
Hangzhou Poly Aobo Tianjun

Project Category
Housing Multi-Family Under Construction

Team
Zhu Peidong, Xiao Weixing, Zhao Shengyao, Zhang Yi, Yang Xiaoyu, Su Kai, Qiu Yimin, Gou Yongjian

Project Location
Hangzhou

Country
China

Photography ©Credit
©line+ studio

line+ studio,founded by chief architects Meng Fanhao and Zhu Peidong, is an innovative firm with a global perspective. With “shaping changes” as its core strategy, line+ addresses urban-rural challenges, unlocking and iterating the value of architecture across social, economic, and cultural domains.

Committed to sharp perception and critical thinking, line+ creates designs rooted in regional context and cultural diversity, pushing the boundaries of design and innovating architectural paradigms. By uncovering potential value within commercial logic, line+ engages in various fields including urban spaces, corporate campuses, high-end residential projects, rural revitalization, and cultural tourism, aiming to bridge culture and commerce.