Tiangang Village Living Room: SYN Architects’ Countryside Revival

Bridging Tradition and Innovation

Tiangang Village Living Room is a transformative rural architecture project by SYN Architects China, redefining countryside living while respecting its original character. The project revitalizes a cluster of existing village buildings—including the village committee, health clinic, and communal stage—into a vibrant communal hub. SYN Architects carefully studied the original structures, maintaining their inherent rural charm while introducing contemporary interventions that breathe new life into the space.

A Community-Centric Approach

As the centerpiece of Tiangang Zhixing Village, the Village Living Room faces the Tiangang Art Center and the iconic “Big Straw Hat” installation. The renovation preserves the original committee building’s structure while introducing diverse functions: a café, a children’s activity area, and multipurpose communal spaces. Villagers actively participate in the project, with local residents employed as baristas and guides, creating a sense of ownership and engagement.

The upper-floor “reception room” doubles as an educational space for children, providing access to learning opportunities that rival urban environments. Family portraits and local stories, displayed throughout the building and captured in the “Tiangang Zhixing Village Chronicle,” strengthen the connection between architecture, culture, and community.

Activating the Countryside

Through strategic programming, SYN Architects demonstrates that activating rural spaces goes beyond aesthetics. New construction, public services, and cultural programming help bridge the gap between villagers and the wider world. The Village Living Room emerges as a cultural and social hub, fostering interaction, creativity, and shared experiences while enhancing the “Village Light” initiative, projecting Tiangang Village onto a broader cultural map.

Architectural Language: Arches and Light

The original village committee featured five arches, sloping roofs, and brick walls. SYN Architects expanded this motif, creating trumpet-shaped volumes and arched concrete shell structures that seamlessly integrate with the existing architecture. Flat triangular skylights solve functional issues like drainage while flooding interiors with natural light, accentuating the arches’ curved geometry and generating dynamic shadow patterns.

Timber, red brick, pressed grass panels, and concrete complement each other, evoking the warmth and materiality of traditional countryside architecture. Interior arched timber frames continue the arch motif, linking spaces such as the café, children’s activity area, and exhibition halls while creating a cohesive visual rhythm. Outdoor lighting enhances the arches’ dramatic effect, connecting the building with its surroundings.

Communal Spaces and Countryside Connection

Floor-to-ceiling glass facades on the northeast side provide sweeping views of mountains and earth art, integrating the building with the surrounding landscape. Seating in the Village History Exhibition Hall is oriented toward the natural scenery, while the reception room fosters dialogue between “new farmers” and long-term villagers.

Additional renovations include the original health clinic and communal stage, with architectural features emphasizing continuity and heritage. The public square incorporates symbolic design elements, such as 12 grass patches representing the zodiac, reflecting the passage of time and Tiangang Village’s ongoing cultural evolution.

A Lasting Rural Legacy

Tiangang Village Living Room redefines rural architecture by blending heritage preservation, innovative design, and community participation. SYN Architects’ thoughtful approach ensures the building is not only a functional space but also a cultural beacon, nurturing the village’s social, educational, and artistic life for generations.

All Photographs are works of ArchiTranslator