Rachel House

Rachel House

Rachel House is an innovative residential architectural project that exemplifies modern living through its harmonious integration of open spaces, privacy considerations, and natural elements. The four-storey villa, designed by Chester Goh, features a distinctive central water courtyard that serves as the heart of the home, fostering family interaction while maintaining private spaces in the upper floors. The architectural design showcases a sophisticated interplay of geometric forms, with juxtaposed bedroom cubes creating a clean, modern facade that frames views of the oriental-themed landscape garden. Spanning a site area of 1000m2 with a building area of 1300m2, the structure employs thoughtful design elements including earth-toned wood and natural grey granite materials, large floor-to-ceiling windows for optimal ventilation, and strategically placed overhangs for climate control. The design draws inspiration from traditional southern Chinese courtyard techniques, incorporating existing site rocks into the landscape to create an organic connection with nature. The project, completed in 2020 in Zhongshan City, China, demonstrates exceptional attention to seasonal changes through carefully selected Chinese seasonal trees that transform the courtyard's appearance throughout the year. The villa's design philosophy emphasizes the balance between social interaction and privacy, utilizing the concept of Enframed Scenery from Chinese Gardens to create multiple scenic perspectives of the courtyard. This architectural achievement was recognized with a Silver A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building and Structure Design category, acknowledging its innovative approach to residential design and its successful integration of modern architectural elements with traditional Chinese design principles.

residential architecture, modern villa design, courtyard integration, sustainable living, oriental landscape design, contemporary housing

— Adam Dawson