Reconstruction of Yimeng Renjia No.2 Courtyard Resort

The Yimeng Renjia Courtyard No. 2 project is a renovation of a traditional brand hotel courtyard that has operated for many years. Through preserving and renewing the architectural courtyard, utilizing local materials, and creating atmosphere through light and shadow, the design explores renovation strategies for traditional courtyard space. The renowned painter and calligrapher Fan Zeng stayed at the hotel and was so impressed that he inscribed the name Yimeng Renjia, by which the hotel has since been known. Yimeng Renjia is located at the foot of Guimeng Peak in the Mengshan Tourism Resort, a typical northern courtyard-style hotel within the Mengshan scenic area. As facilities gradually aged over the years, the decision was made to begin by upgrading Courtyard No. 2. The existing courtyard and buildings were constructed in 2002, built with locally sourced materials: the wall foundations use local bluestone, the upper walls use blue brick, and the perimeter walls use cobblestones found throughout the valley. The entire courtyard embodies local residential character and carries years of Yimeng Renjia memory. It is a typical example of the local traditional courtyard dwelling, and from the outset the design decision was made to preserve the main structure of the courtyard and buildings while making appropriate insertions and modifications. The courtyard measures fifteen meters east-west and ten meters north-south. The existing entrance and perimeter walls are in good condition and strongly represent local tradition, so they were fully preserved, retaining the memory of the original courtyard's mood and atmosphere. Internal elements such as seating, plantings, trees, and pebble paths had become somewhat chaotic. These were reorganized, while two existing trees were preserved. The tea pavilion and perspective views within the courtyard demonstrate how the design balances preservation of the old with insertion of the new, creating spaces that feel both rooted and contemporary.