No. 8 House in Dongnan Village by xiān Architects

Located in the historic town of Shaxi, Dali, China, the No. 8 House in Dongnan Village is a contemporary residence designed by xiān Architects that blends modern living with deep cultural roots. Covering an area of 733 m², the house reinterprets traditional Bai architecture while embracing the rhythms of daily life, community, and nature.

A Pandemic-Inspired Journey

The project’s story begins in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the homeowner—founder of the start-up Someet—decided to close his company and leave Beijing. Drawn to Shaxi, a town with a thousand-year history where the Bai ethnic community has lived for generations, he sought a home that reflected freedom, connection, and belonging. This relocation became the foundation for a house that embodies both personal retreat and collective spirit.

Cultural and Historical Context

Just 2 kilometers from Shaxi’s central square, the home is immersed in a town where music, dance, and communal gatherings remain part of everyday life. The project resonates with the earlier Shaxi Sideng Street restoration, supported by ETH Zurich, the World Monuments Fund, and local government, which emphasized the concept of “living together.” No. 8 House echoes this philosophy—celebrating heritage while creating space for modern coexistence.

Design Philosophy

xiān Architects began with the belief that people understand the horizon before understanding the home. The design embraces **natural elements—sunlight, wind, rain, and shadow—**as co-inhabitants of the space. Instead of focusing only on functional rooms, the architecture organizes relationships between time, space, atmosphere, and emotion, creating an environment that is both intimate and expansive.

The house reflects a paradox: small in form, infinite in meaning. It supports solitude and community alike, allowing the residents to live in rhythm with both their inner world and the surrounding environment.

Spatial Organization

The residence is structured around a front courtyard complex formed by four distinct architectural volumes, each with its own character. Spaces include:

• Book Tower & Sundial Tower – symbolic anchors connecting knowledge and time.
• Living & Dining Rooms – for communal gatherings.
• Yoga & Meditation Room – offering retreat and reflection.
• Master Suite & Six Guest Rooms – blending hospitality with intimacy.

The backyard garden expands the living experience into a more rustic and functional realm, featuring a wine cellar, storage areas, woodworking workshop, drying zone, and campsite, fostering a lifestyle of craft, leisure, and exploration.

A Home for Free Living

For the owner, freedom was not merely about open plans or flexible layouts—it was about a responsive architecture that adapts to solitude, joy, and collective celebration. The house is not just a dwelling but a living organism, sensitive to daily rhythms and deeply attuned to its community and environment.

All Photographs are works of Guowei Liu, Zhi Xia