Architects:hyperSity architects

Area :320 m²

Year :2018

Client : Dream Home of Shanghai Satellite TV and Luosang

Principal Architect : Yang Shi, Shaojun Li

Design Team : Yang Lv, Lu Teng, Jiaqi Kang

City : Lhasa

Country : China

Lhasa is known as the city of sunshine, which very important element in the living behavior of a family. But light doesn't mean unlimited one. It points to the controlled light and designed light. In traditional Tibetan living space, the control of light is reflected in the vernacular Tibetan living between "winter room" that the lower window is small, which is good for keeping warm, and "summer room" that the upper window is large, which is good for ventilation. So the traditional Tibetan courtyard is often an introverted space, and creates an intimate, solemn and dignified atmosphere. Tibetan People's daily life and faith were formed in courtyard houses, where are traditionally surrounded by thick walls and pure colors. Unfortunately, undergoing a drastic modernization process nowadays, they are conflicted with the needs of young Tibetan generations.

Built by the government in the 1990s, the 2-floor courtyard house is the commodity property of Luosang family in the eastern part of Chengguan District. Luosang and his wife were educated in university of mainland China, after they came back to Lhasa, the original layout could not fulfill the family population growth as Luosang's eldest daughter and youngest daughter were born one after another in recent years. In addition, during the Buddha festivals every year, the Luosang family, like other families in Lhasa, would welcome their relatives and friends who come from all over the Tibetan region. Nevertheless, there is not sufficient space reserved for that. So the family conforms to the functional requirements of modern life and also gives consideration to the traditional spiritual life. The creation of the modernized living space with traditional spatial characteristics, become the starting point of the architectural renovation approach.