Atelier GOM designed the Shanghai Longnan Garden estate, which is the first social housing project located in the country to stray from high-rise towers. It is commissioned by the district's Assets Supervision and Administration Commission to create low-rent residences. The northern side of the complex has four seven-story buildings to form a U-shaped slightly enclosed courtyard layout. The southern side has three blocks with step-down roofs.
Jiajing Zhang, chief architect at Shanghai-based architecture studio Atelier GOM states "In China, all housing must meet stringent sunlight requirements to ensure each apartment unit within a residential complex receives minimum sunlight during the day, which presents a significant challenge when it comes to designing a housing form. High-rise, low-density determinant housing is the easiest solution, while the enclosed courtyard layout is not commonly used for that reason."
Unconventional Chinese Housing Estates
Atelier GOM Designs the Longnan Garden Estate
Trend Themes
1. Low-rise Social Housing - Designing housing estates with lower building heights and courtyard layouts to break away from traditional high-rise towers in social housing projects.
2. Sunlight-inclusive Residences - Creating residential complexes that prioritize sunlight accessibility for each apartment unit, challenging the typical high-density housing approach in China.
3. Alternative Urban Architectural Designs - Exploring unconventional layouts like U-shaped courtyards and step-down roofs to offer unique housing solutions and improve residential living experiences.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture - Innovating in the field of architecture by reimagining social housing projects with novel designs that prioritize community spaces and sunlight exposure.
2. Real Estate Development - Transforming the real estate industry by introducing low-rise housing concepts that offer a balance between privacy, natural light, and environmental sustainability.
3. Construction - Revolutionizing construction practices by embracing alternative urban architectural designs that challenge traditional norms and enhance the aesthetics of residential complexes.