Liang House by Atelier ArchFAN: A Creative Renovation of a Chengdu Rooftop Residence

A Visionary Rooftop Renovation in Chengdu

Liang House by Atelier ArchFAN is a thoughtful renovation project that reimagines the top floor of a mid-2000s residential building in Chengdu, China. Situated near the Second Ring Road, the building is part of a unique residential complex born during a transitional era of urban development—before real estate became formulaic and standardized. This backdrop offers a rich architectural canvas for innovation.

The project involved transforming a dated rooftop into a modern, adaptable living environment that reflects the lifestyle and artistic values of the residents: a creative family returning from Beijing to reconnect with their roots in Chengdu.

Redefining Urban Living Through Adaptive Renovation

Unlike typical residential renovations that focus on cosmetic upgrades, the Liang House project dives deep into spatial optimization, functional flexibility, and urban renewal. The design challenges the monotonous, standardized facades that plague many Chinese cities, offering a counter-narrative that champions diversity and human-centric design.

Expanding Living Space with Smart Interventions

At the heart of this renovation lies the expansion of both horizontal and vertical living areas. The design intelligently reclaims underused space to maximize functionality while respecting structural and community constraints.

• Enclosed Balconies were sealed and integrated into the interior, providing clean, low-maintenance areas for everyday living.
• Partial Demolition of Floor Slabs enabled the creation of a vertical connection between floors via a sculptural staircase, improving access and interaction.
• Reconstruction of Prefabricated Rooftop Units transformed what were once simple outbuildings into a serene, reliable rooftop retreat with a roof garden that enhances both usability and aesthetics.

Harmonizing Atmosphere with Material Logic

The interior design of Liang House is a masterclass in material balance and visual harmony. The palette is refined and natural, emphasizing textures over embellishments:

• Wood tones appear in built-in furniture, doors, and new partition walls, grounding the space in warmth.
• Raw concrete and exposed beams retain the building’s structural honesty.
• White finishes on walls and ceilings introduce brightness and contrast.
• Black metal accents define details like stair railings and door frames, adding visual depth and modern appeal.

This layered approach results in a calm, cohesive interior that feels both contemporary and timeless—ideal for a creative family seeking serenity in the city.

Supporting a Multifunctional Lifestyle

The layout reflects a fluid, lifestyle-oriented approach to home design. Rejecting the traditional rigid separation of rooms, the architects introduced adaptable zones that support work, rest, socializing, and wellness.

• The kitchen and balcony merge into a single luminous space for cooking and dining.
• A reconfigured bedroom area becomes a spacious, light-filled hall and a double-height children’s room with a mezzanine.
• The top floor functions as both an art studio and a home gym, connected to the main level by walkways and stairs that support intuitive circulation.

Each space is deliberately open-ended, capable of accommodating changing needs over time. The house becomes a living framework for personal expression and evolving lifestyles.

Designed to Endure the Test of Time

Spanning five years of development and construction, the Liang House project is a testament to patience, vision, and long-term thinking. The focus remained on foundational qualities—space, atmosphere, and livability—rather than fleeting trends. The result is a resilient and inspiring urban home that offers a new way of living atop the city.

All Photographs are works of Haiting Sun