Carrying Pole House by Atelier KAI Architects: Innovative Renovation in Beijing

 Transforming Traditional Hutongs

The Carrying Pole House, designed by Atelier KAI Architects, is a remarkable example of blending modern architectural innovation with traditional Beijing hutong typology. Situated in Mao’er Hutong, this residential renovation reimagines a five-bay, bar-shaped house with narrow courtyards and sloping roofs. The design transforms a constrained, linear space into a dynamic, multidimensional home, offering both aesthetic appeal and functional versatility.

Expanding Functionality with Box Elements

The architects introduced box elements to create three distinct spatial zones: a sunken space, a large multipurpose area, and a roof space. This strategy not only enhances the house’s functionality but also enriches the user experience. The original room’s limitations are expanded, offering flexible usage for living, work, and exhibition purposes.

• Sunken Space: Engages with the original courtyard, creating intimate indoor-outdoor interactions.
• Large Space: Connects to the existing wooden frame, supporting versatile activities.
• Roof Space: Dialogues with the existing roof, maximizing light, air, and visual flow.

This spatial layering introduces three-dimensional living, giving the impression of larger areas while preserving the hutong’s historic charm.

Innovative Spatial Perception

One of the most striking aspects of the renovation is its spatial transformation. The original single-dimensional layout evolves into three interconnected spatial experiences, each anchored to the existing structure.

The narrow strip of land is converted into a flexible, square-shaped space, enhancing usability and flow. The design emphasizes both visual and functional connections, creating an environment that feels expansive despite its modest 93 m² footprint.

Three-Dimensional Courtyard and Light Strategies

By leveraging the sloping roofs of neighboring buildings, Atelier KAI Architects created a three-dimensional courtyard. A semi-elevated platform allows the courtyard to stretch toward the sky, transforming light and landscape perception inside the house.

• Semi-Sunken Floor: Draws the eye inward, creating private scenic pockets.
• Layered Spaces: Staggered levels generate dynamic relationships between interior and exterior environments.
• Natural Light Optimization: Sloped roofs and elevated platforms guide light flow throughout the house.

This approach blends natural light, outdoor scenery, and interior spatial fluidity, turning the home into a multidimensional architectural experience.

Structural Innovation: Pole Truss System

A key feature of the renovation is the lightweight steel truss system, weighing only 1.9 tons, which is structurally independent from the original wooden roof trusses. One end is anchored by a pull rod while the other is cantilevered, supporting a 6-ton floor slab. This innovative “pole truss” creates a floating yet enclosed volume, adding a sculptural element to the space.

The tension between old wooden structures and new steel frameworks transforms familiar hutong elements into something simultaneously recognizable and abstract, creating new spatial experiences and visual hierarchies.

Material Palette and Textural Harmony

The renovation introduces a carefully curated material palette, including:

• Natural metals
• Semi-transparent polycarbonate panels
• Plastering mortar

These materials interact with the original wooden framework, creating a temperature-sensitive, visually layered environment. The balance between old and new materials generates a home that is at once familiar and novel, respecting hutong heritage while embracing contemporary design.

 A Modern Hutong Experience

The Carrying Pole House exemplifies how thoughtful residential renovation can transform limited urban spaces into flexible, dynamic, and visually rich environments. By integrating steel structures, three-dimensional spatial design, and innovative light strategies, Atelier KAI Architects has redefined what it means to live within a historic hutong. This project highlights the potential of adaptive reuse in contemporary Chinese architecture, merging tradition and modernity seamlessly.

All photographs are works of XING RUI