john friedman alice kimm completes peace creek villas in central china

in china, john friedman alice kimm architects (JFAK) has created a human-scaled neighborhood of detached villas surrounded by water and vegetation

in china, john friedman alice kimm architects (JFAK) has created a human-scaled neighborhood of detached villas surrounded by water and vegetation. located in chengdu, the scheme is conceived as a new residential model that engages the landscape with organic forms. the project exists in contrast to the country’s enormous housing blocks that also seek to attract newly prosperous potential residents.

designed for middle to upper class single families, the ‘peace creek villas’ are part of a larger development called ‘luxe lakes’. LA-based firm JFAK employed a consistent and contemporary material palette of stone, concrete, wood, and glass. organic forms that curve in both plan and section create a sense of continuous flow, while simultaneously channeling views and providing privacy. all of the development’s 43 units sold in one day — before construction work even began.

‘we wanted to offer a new kind of experience, something more organic and based in natural forms, even anthropomorphic at times,’ explains john friedman principal of JFAK. ‘the clients wanted us to do something different. they gave us the freedom to explore — not just for the sake of doing something new, but rather to find a unique model that would resonate with how people might want to live in the new china.’