A House in Xueshan Village by DL Atelier

A House in Xueshan Village is a 350-square-meter, self-initiated residential project crafted by DL Atelier in Xueshan Village, Changping District, Beijing. Positioned on the urban–rural boundary—about a 30-minute drive from the city’s Second Ring Road—the building serves as a private residence, a design office, and a venue for community activities. The project investigates how diverse functions can be integrated within a single architectural entity, while allowing for adaptability as needs evolve.

The site is a rectangular parcel situated at the northeastern edge of the village, bordered by roads to the north and west, and neighboring courtyards to the east and south. Previously undeveloped, the plot’s potential was realized through a design process that considered three core uses: residential living, office work, and rental or commercial activities. Rather than assigning a fixed function, the concept was envisioned as a flexible spatial system that could support different uses over time.

Departing from the conventional rural house model—where buildings encircle a central courtyard—this project places the main structure at the center, surrounded by variously sized courtyards on all sides. This configuration provides every room with direct outdoor access, enhancing natural light, ventilation, and spatial versatility. Perimeter walls are elevated to protect privacy, while the building’s upper levels are set back, creating terraces for second-floor bedrooms. Along the village road, a three-car garage addresses both practical needs and the site’s relationship to the street. A large sliding door enables the garage to open fully, accommodating outward-facing uses and visually connecting the street with the interior. The garage adjoins a workshop designed for fabrication and prototyping, keeping noisy or dusty activities separate from living areas while maintaining workflow efficiency.

The relationship between the project site and the neighborhood space ©Zhu Yumeng

The interiors are arranged as open, adaptable zones that can accommodate residential living, office work, exhibitions, or commercial activities. On the ground floor, communal spaces connect seamlessly to the courtyard, fostering a blend of indoor and outdoor experiences. The second floor merges private living quarters with open workspaces that can host over ten people. An independent office entrance, staircase, and restroom on the street-facing side enable the office to operate separately from the residence, or to be integrated when desired.

Developed by the DL Atelier design studio, the building also fulfills exhibition and community roles. A former living room has been repurposed as an exhibition area, while a ground-floor room functions as a small community library with street access. The building acts as a showcase for rainwater harvesting and recycling systems, and both the ground-level and rooftop gardens are used for ongoing landscape and planting experiments. Anticipating future infrastructure developments, the east facade features expanded glazing to facilitate potential commercial use facing the street once the adjacent road is widened. The architectural language is intentionally understated, prioritizing cost-effective construction, standard materials, and ease of replication over highly customized forms.

An Experiment for the Future ©Zhu Yumeng

Emphasizing passive design strategies, the project aims to lower long-term operational costs and improve environmental performance. The building’s form, insulation, and orientation were carefully calibrated, with thoughtful studies on window placement, courtyard wall heights, and seasonal ventilation. Courtyard walls are designed to encourage cross-ventilation in summer while shielding against winter winds. Landscape and water management systems were developed in partnership with the homeowner, whose expertise shaped the rainwater management approach. Permeable paving, lush courtyards, and a partly soil-covered green roof operate together as a system for collecting, infiltrating, and reusing rainwater. These features enhance both the building’s environmental performance and ongoing research into water-efficient landscaping.

By integrating residential, work, exhibition, and income-generating activities under one roof, A House in Xueshan Village offers a hybrid lifestyle model tailored to the needs of the urban–rural fringe. It positions architecture as a flexible tool for living and small-scale development, adapting to shifting professional demands and housing expectations. Rather than proposing a final solution, the building serves as a prototype for adaptable, self-developed housing. Its design supports phased expansion, potential connections with neighboring sites, and the gradual emergence of a small, mixed-use community. In this way, the project views architecture not as a static object, but as a scalable framework for future rural development on the city’s edge.

The street-facing space is interconnected with the interior courtyard in two directions ©Zhu Yumeng

Courtyards, terraces, and rooftop platforms ©Zhu Yumeng

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