City Gate Renovation
Xi’an, China
Program Residential and Commercial Condominiums
Size 33,000 m²
Client Confidential
Year Design 2018
Located just outside the City Wall of Xi’an, China, the original building was built in the 1990s as a hostel with a robust concrete frame but poor space planning and exterior envelope. Like many of the mid-rise buildings constructed in that period in China, the building featured tile clad exterior walls with punch windows that repeat on every floor.
Our client came to us with the goal to convert this building to high end apartments. The design created duplex apartments with private elevator entry and parking space elevated to each level. The large homes are designed to accommodate both formal and informal living, with an emphasis on making legible the building's relationship to the city wall and the green park space just beyond. The main facade above the two story podium is conceived as a thick & living wall reminiscent of the historic city walls in scale and the terra cotta warriors in texture and color. Large panels of glass doors, wood shutters, and limestone frame the double height openings within the facade, creating an ever changing reading of depth and shadow. Spatially, this space acts as the front porch of each residence, bridging the inside with the outside, man made with nature.
Yueqi Jazzy Li made critical contributions to this Ennead Architects project in the capacity of the Senior Designer.