Courtyard House Design in China: Spacework Architects’ Longan Tree Residence

A Residence Rooted in Nature

In Quanzhou, China, Spacework Architects have created a remarkable example of courtyard house design in China with the “Courtyard under Longan Trees” project. This unique residence and studio for a photography curator is situated in a quiet corner of Quanzhou Huaguang Vocational College, surrounded by an existing grove of mature longan trees. The design began with one non-negotiable principle: retain every single tree.

Integrating Architecture and Landscape

Instead of imposing a singular building form, the architects allowed the natural arrangement of the longan grove to shape the layout. Five main volumes—housing a dining room with open kitchen, studio, tea room, and two bedrooms—are interwoven with the trees, connected by a ring-shaped gallery. This configuration frames a central circular courtyard, along with several peripheral courtyards, each with its own atmosphere.

Site-Responsive Courtyard Variety

Each courtyard serves a different function and interacts with its surroundings in distinct ways. The northern entry courtyard welcomes visitors from a campus road, marked by a cantilevered canopy. The studio opens to a secluded courtyard with a solid wall backdrop, creating a quiet workspace. The tea room faces a linear garden along a retaining wall, while the bedroom courtyard opens to the south. The largest courtyard lies outside the dining room, facing southwest, with stairs leading to a roof terrace that immerses visitors in the tree canopy.

Design Precision Guided by Nature

Before construction, the architects carefully measured the distances between every tree trunk, mapping them using triangular geometry. This meticulous survey ensured that the building footprints harmonized with the grove. Even the planter heights reflect the site’s natural grade changes, and the white walls act as canvases for shifting tree shadows throughout the day.

Simple Materials, Timeless Atmosphere

Built with a modest load-bearing wall structure and flat concrete roof, the residence uses locally available materials: white plastered walls, cement floors, grey bricks for courtyard paving, and pebbles matching the hue of longan fruit. These choices allow the longan trees to be the true stars of the design, making the architecture feel like a quiet frame for nature.

A Shared Space for Living and Creativity

Beyond being a private residence, the house functions as a cultural venue for the curator and his wife to host and collaborate with fellow artists. While low walls ensure privacy, they don’t fully block views, allowing the home to become an informal campus landmark, drawing teachers and students to explore the space.

A Model for Modern Courtyard House Design in China

The “Courtyard under Longan Trees” stands as a thoughtful, environmentally sensitive example of how traditional courtyard principles can be adapted for modern living—placing nature not just beside architecture, but at its very heart.

All photographs are works of Spacework Architects, Rui Fu, Qicui Wu