"Why do I reside in the emerald mountains, you ask, I smile without answer; my heart is at ease. Peach blossoms drift on flowing waters away, in a world apart, beyond the human realm,” penned the revered Chinese poet Li Bai. The classical poet’s words reflect a desire for tranquillity and a retreat from the complexities of life. His philosophy serves as the foundation for Courtyard 35’s winding bridge to create a 'world apart'. Conceived by Beijing-based architecture and design firm WAY Studio, the floating bridge design transforms a secluded courtyard into a vibrant public space with a micro-mixed-use complex. The building renovation “considers the relationship between old and new, outside and inside, positive and negative space, to create a cloudscape insertion that mediates the relationship between nature, man, and man-made,” as outlined by the studio.

The suspended, ribbon-like bridge takes centre stage within a historical courtyard in Beijing, China, which once housed the royal extended family near the imperial palace. By the 1990s, however, the space had become irregular with mixed decorative styles that lacked unity, following multiple renovations and road expansions. To address this issue and respond to the neighbouring commercial hub, WangFuJing, the Chinese architects sought to shift perceptions of traditional courtyards by reshaping the spatial order of Courtyard 35. Rather than focusing on the buildings, they turned their attention to the courtyard’s negative space, 'the void' by introducing a cloud bridge. Its integration redefines the spatial structure and challenges conventional perceptions of how traditional courtyards can be reimagined. "We hope to show that preserving Chinese tradition is not simply a replication of existing historical pavilions and towers, but a spirit of innovation that is a journey of discovery and awareness," says the design team in an official statement.

The cloud-shaped bridge is a sweeping structure with twisted mirror-like surfaces that seemingly float in the air to cast reflections of the courtyard beneath. It preserves two towering ancient trees, abstracting the immediate surroundings and offering visitors an unexpected visual experience. The organic structure allows them to view the rooftops of traditional houses, which appear like mountain peaks nestled among clouds, adding an otherworldly dimension to the courtyard’s transformation.

The Chinese designers’ innate passion for curves begets the white, pedestrian bridge, redefining the traditional Chinese courtyard design of Siheyuan. These spaces, with their enclosed layout of four buildings surrounding a central open area, symbolised family intimacy and protection from the outside world. WAY Studio retained this essence in planning Courtyard 35 while transforming the space into a multifunctional complex where modern functions morph with traditional aesthetics.

The Chinese architecture conserves the existing guard house at the entrance and accommodates a small coffee and tea shop next to it. The main courtyard hosts a mix of cultural and social functions, with an exhibition shop and restaurant bar located in the south wing, while the north wing features a VIP room on the ground floor and a Chinese cultural exchange studio on the second floor. By focusing on core functionalities and leaving common areas more fluid, the studio maximises flexibility, fosters spatial sustainability, and adapts to modern needs, creating a dynamic social space. "The cloud bridge, as per WAY Studio, “not only redefines the architectural landscape but also serves as a medium for social interaction, bringing vitality and a new dimension to the traditional courtyard.”

Courtyard 35 invites visitors to experience Chinese aesthetics not as fixed, but as evolving visual arts - blurring the boundaries between function and form. The renovation architecture challenges conventional notions of space, embodying a new vision of flexibility where cultural heritage is honoured through a dynamic and adaptable environment. By merging the tangible and abstract, the sculptural installation metamorphoses into a revitalised urban space witnessing the continuous journey of Chinese design.

Previous projects featuring renovation of courtyard architecture published on STIR include a pair of traditional lakeside dwellings transformed into a tearoom and rest space, Lakeside Teahouse in Jiaxing, China by Domain Architects and Malling Dampmølle in Denmark by CEBRA, as a housing complex creating pockets of greenery through an irregular star-shaped plan.

Project Details

Name: Courtyard 35
Location: Beijing, P.R. China
Architect: WAY Studio
Design Team: Zheng Tao, Fernie Lai, Zhang ZeQun, Fang Wen, Wang TianMo, Chen Yu
Contractor: Beijing Helida Building Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd
Area: 440 sqm.
Year of Completion: 2023