Chinese courtyard

EPCoral presentation

saw hwei yingsonia mancxia

presented by

traditional dwellingsaround the world

China

- siheyuan-the chinese quadrangle

historical background of

China

| marked to have begun as early as the 16th century BC

| the city of An-yang, is an important center of the first

Chinese civilization | began with unconnected "city-state" forms of settlements in the

Yellow River Valley | was not unified under a large kingdom or empire until 221 BC—just

over 2,225 years ago.

| traditional cities are often planned in accordance with archaic concepts of geomancy, Feng-shui and astronomy.

| implement rich traditional culture in architecture.

urban planning.

| the use of open space.| courtyards where used as common public space.

| market on the first floor, residential on the second floor.

| unity was reflected. neighborhood face a common

internal courtyard.

| 2000 – 3000 years

structure and layout

bilateral symmetry.

horizontal emphasis.

enclosure.

hierarchy.

enclosure.| enclosure behind high gray walls

| only a single off-center entry gate

| main structures facing south or south east

bilateral symmetry.| signifies side-to-side balance.

hierarchy.| obvious throughout the entire residence

| parts of residence serve different functions.

| set apart despite being linked together.

horizontal emphasis.| emphasis on breadth and less on height.

| an enclosed heavy platform and a large roof that floats over this base.

engineered structure

northwestern walls thicker than other walls

to protect inside buildings from harsh winds

Eaves curved downwardSo that rainwater will flow along curve

engineered structure

overview.

front courtyard.

main rooms.

| guest rooms and studies

| living quarters for male servants

opposite main rooms.

| junior members

| spread along north-south axis in a symmetrical pattern

east & west wing rooms.

| the master of the house

| central axis which are grander than all other rooms

inner courtyard.

via second gate.

| inner courtyard leads to small side house

| third courtyard – rooms of mistress and daughters

lighting.different amount of lighting into the rooms

northern.most.

living and bedroom of master.

eastern and western.

least.

reception room, servant’s dwelling, family room.

southern.

less.

children and less important members.

why ?comfortable environment.

tribute to traditional values.| proper order of seniority.

| distinction between family and outsiders.

| superiority of master over servant.

Ornamentation

Drum-shaped bearing stone

| Combine design of drum and door-guarding lion| Carved with exquisite embossed patterns| Common decoration at the entrance| Showing greeting | Show the financial power of the house owner

Flowers-Hung Door| Door hung with suspended puncheons| Chapiters in the shape of petals| Girded end carved with patterns of cloud| Parts connected puncheons are carved and painted

Entrance Gate

| Painted red| Door knockers on it

Door Knockers| Define the status of the owner| Copper or iron | Beast designed| Expel evil | Bring Auspicious Omen

Screen Wall| Special wall in front of the gate| Tile-made roof and eaves| Frame decorated with carving and calligraphy | Used to repel evil

The Wooden Partitions| Wooden wall in the rooms

| Mounted with glass or stuckwith paper

| Adorned with colouredpaintings and wood carvings

| Beautiful and useful

| Good for ventilation

| Separate a room

Window with Bat Design| In Chinese, bat read as “Fu”, | Happiness is “Fu”| Design with the bat | Represent happiness

Vase with China Roses Pattern

| In Feng Shui, represents auspicious and safe

| Flowering every month

| Safe and sound the whole year

Chinese Couplet

| Traditional ornament| Hang at the column of the door

Type of Material Used

Rammed Earth ClayWood

Rammed Earth

| Foundation and walls of courtyard house| earth, chalk, lime and gravel| Make bricks to build the wall

Wood

| Used to frame houses| Support the roof

Clay

| Make the roof tiles of the houses| Common material| Formed using round circular wooden mold| Mold mounted on a wheel

references.1. Chen, C. (2008). Chinese Houses (p.24). Shanghai: The Reader's Digest.

2. Knapp, R. (2005). Chinese Houses (p. 28). Singapore: Tuttle

3. Chinese Courtyard Houses 四合院. (2013, January 10). Retrieved January27, 2015,fromhttp://oldchinabooks.com/YangShen_eBook_Blog/2013/01/10/chinese-courtyard-houses-四合院

4. Traditions- Folk Residences. (n.d.). Retrieved January 27, 2015, from http://traditions.cultural-china.com/en/123Traditions20.html