Shixia, which means to roam in the beauty of summer, is the name of an old residence located in the village near Daihe (Dai River) in Beidaihe District, Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province. It is only ten minutes’ drive from the popular Laohutan (Tiger Beach). This tranquil cottage is a good place to relax.
After the renovation, Shixia Cottage turned into a house with a front and a back courtyard, two hundred-year-old brick and tile rooms, a bamboo house and a west wing. The old east wing is incorporated into the bamboo house, creating a construction integrated with the yard and presenting a special visual effect. Each room has a separate entrance and courtyard, and the view of the courtyard can be seen from the window.
The architectural style of this old residence is typical of northern residences. The architectural structure, decorative patterns and use of materials reveal its rustic and regional characteristics. The black and red bricks witnessed the history of the residence. The rooms built of black bricks in the front courtyard had a history of more than 100 years, and the wing in the back courtyard was built later. Carved tiles were adopted for the eaves and door frames. The arched doors created an extended visual effect.
Zen is an artistic conception beyond description. For interior spaces, Zen means the balance of the space, the harmony between people and things, and the inner peace of people.
Bamboos, which have hard hollow stems with cross-sections, are regarded as humble yet respectable in Chinese culture. Bamboos, loaded with cultural connotations and imaginations, are an indispensable element for Zen mood in oriental aesthetics.
IAI Best Interior Award
Winners：Liu Yujie
China
