Captain’s House

Renovated by Vector Architects in the Huangqi Peninsula, in China, the house features a vault that connects two sides of sea landscape with dramatically different traits.

Captain’s House is located on the southeast end of Huangqi Peninsula, in the Fujian Province. The damp and erosive nature of seaside caused the unsafety of the existing structure and large-area water leakage during over 20 years of use, which, of become the main design issues to be addressed. Vector Architects’ design work started with the study of structural reinforcement. After a series of careful comparisons, Beijing-based studio decided to add a layer of 12cm concrete wall to the original brick masonry walls.

Vector Architects, Captain’s House, Beijiao Village, China, 2017. Photo Xia Zhi Pin It Vector Architects, Captain’s House, Beijiao Village, China, 2017 Pin It Vector Architects, Captain’s House, Beijiao Village, China, 2017. Pin It Vector Architects, Captain’s House, Beijiao Village, China, 2017 Pin It Vector Architects, Captain’s House, Beijiao Village, China, 2017 Pin It Vector Architects, Captain’s House, Beijiao Village, China, 2017 Pin It Vector Architects, Captain’s House, Beijiao Village, China, 2017 Pin It Vector Architects, Captain’s House, Beijiao Village, China, 2017 Pin It Vector Architects, Captain’s House, Beijiao Village, China, 2017 Pin It Vector Architects, Captain’s House, Beijiao Village, China, 2017 Pin It Vector Architects, Captain’s House, Beijiao Village, China, 2017 Pin It Vector Architects, Captain’s House, Beijiao Village, China, 2017 Pin It Vector Architects, Captain’s House, axonometric view Pin It Vector Architects, Captain’s House, plans Pin It Vector Architects, Captain’s House, plans Pin It Vector Architects, Captain’s House, section Pin It Vector Architects, Captain’s House, section Pin It

The locations and forms of openings also get carefully reconsidered. The new concrete window frame sticks out from the outside wall, which prevents excessive rainwater from seeping into the window from the wall surface. The thickness is then designed into “window-furniture” system: window is no longer a simple opening, but serves as a medium space situating between nature and the interior space.

Vector Architects, Captain’s House, Beijiao Village, China, 2017. Photo Xia Zhi Vector Architects, Captain’s House, Beijiao Village, China, 2017. Photo Xia Zhi Pin It

Vector Architects choose vault to be the structural form of the third floor. It reduces the possibility of water leakage to an extreme for it barely allows any rainwater to stay. Vault is directional. It connects two sides of sea with dramatically different characters: one being the serene sea whereas the other one being the noisy port. This added floor serves as a multifunctional living space: it accommodates visiting family and friends and functions perfectly as a gym or an activity room as well.