Project in-depth: Slow Courtyard in the Hills by nsaaa

In a world where the focus is shifting towards skyscrapers, the slow architecture is the place to cool off and listen to the wind. Slow architecture grew because of the slow food movement. The principle of slow architecture is to design for the function first, meaning focusing on human well-being. Then, we need to harmonise with the environment; in other words, we need to understand and use the site to its full potential. Lastly, we must use durable and local materials and existing structures while transforming the space.

The slow courtyard in the Yaoziyu Fortress, JIudduhe Town, Beijing, is a residential structure located in the corner of the fortress and built during the Ming Dynasty. The Ming dynasty ruled China for an extended period and made incredible growth. Though the reign of the Ming dynasty is gone, their architecture remains. The buildings were made by incorporating their techniques with bricks. Yaoziyu fortress is still home to 13 families. This article will consist of the thinking process behind the house, the construction, the material, the final product and what we can learn from these types of projects. 

Slow Courtyard Planning

The Slow Courtyard in the Hills project by nsaa (Neri&Hu Design and Research Office) started with the idea of traditional Chinese architecture and to create a space that reflects and connects one to the environment. While focusing on traditional Chinese architecture, nsaa wanted to blend the contemporary design with the location’s historical context. They were inspired by the traditional courtyard house typology, siheyuan, which focuses on creating and organising spaces around a central area. By doing this, nsaa could develop the idea they wanted. The House starts with a passage, and you enter a courtyard. To the left are two separate rooms with a bed, a table and attached bathrooms built -300mm from the ground floor level. After a few steps is a kitchen. Then, one can enter the living room and dining room areas with attached bathrooms. On the roof floor is another bedroom with the same features, and another is connected to the terrace.

One of the most essential characteristics of Slow Courtyard is the connection of light air and openness. Large openings and windows bring in ample daylight and reduce the need for artificial lighting. The spatial arrangement allows the cold breezes to flow through the house, making it comfortable during the hotter months. The open courtyard helps regulate the temperature and improve the overall air circulation, reducing the dependence on artificial cooling and making the structure sustainable and energy-efficient. 

Another initiative by nsaa emphasised craftsmanship; they used square steel keels with bamboo and timber panels instead of industrialised materials. These materials are sustainable and add a sense of warmth to the structure. By doing so, they simplified the construction process and showed the aesthetic qualities of handcrafted materials. Other materials used were old-style bricks, which added a sense of continuity to the fortress from the Ming Dynasty-era architecture. Wood and concrete make the building feel organic and timeless while blending with the surroundings. In contrast, concrete provides durability and creates a good contrast between soft and rigid, reintroducing the idea of modernity and tradition. 

Slow Courtyard was built for community gathering and social participation; it is designed to encourage people to interact and it gives you a feeling of privacy and openness simultaneously because of the spatial organisation.

What can we learn?

1. The need for slow architecture: fast construction and rapid urbanisation make our lives fast-paced. Slowing down with the help of integrating nature helps the overall well-being of a person and allows them to stop thinking about their version of a stressed world.
2. Merging tradition and contemporary design: Integrating our culture into our homes seamlessly can reduce construction costs and go hand in hand with modern ways of living. 
3. Integrating nature into homes: The slow Courtyard design created a smooth transition between the interior and exterior and kept natural ventilation; we can apply the same techniques for building not to be a barrier between nature and people.
4. Materiality matters: Using local and handcrafted materials like bamboo, bricks and wood, we can increase the aesthetic experience of our homes while increasing sustainability. The choice of materials should be durable and authentic rather than materials produced by mass production.
5. Community-oriented spaces: The layout of Slow Courtyard is designed to encourage social interaction while offering privacy. From this, we can learn that spaces can be made for dual function with careful planning.
6. Sustainability is more than technology: The Slow Courtyard showed that you do not require high-end technologies to be sustainable. Passive design strategies can quickly do it and work with the environment rather than working against it.

The Slow Courtyard teaches us that architecture is timeless and proves that by slowing down and embracing tradition, we can create space that is not only beautiful but also meaningful.