Zunsheng Courtyard

Anshi Village in Yibin, Sichuan, is an ordinary village backed by Nianpan Mountain. The village is connected by lanes, with scattered fields and ponds, houses and trees interwoven—a typical western Sichuan forest settlement. Zunsheng Courtyard is located in the central area of Anshi Village, facing terraced fields that cascade eastward and backed by a dense bamboo grove, together forming a tranquil image of farmland and village architecture. The site originally contained three low rural dwellings with different orientations. The design faced three challenges: how to integrate the three existing independent buildings, how to respond to the curved site boundary formed by the terraced fields and village road, and how to balance current functional needs with the future living needs of farmers. Based on a deep understanding of rural fabric and living conditions, the project was completed through partial demolition, renovation, and new construction—a repair and recreation of the courtyard that borrowed the philosophy of the traditional porcelain-clamp repair technique. An arc-shaped gray-tile roof unfurls along the site boundary and village road, connecting two existing dwellings into a continuous whole after the temporary firewood sheds between them were demolished. The integrated mass both clarifies the elevation relationship from the road into the site and forms an interface transition from farmland to building cluster. Compared with the previous roof, the new arc roof is slightly raised, making it appear lighter while allowing light to filter through the gap between eaves and walls into the interior. The connector between the two dwellings serves as the entrance to the new building cluster. Original stone pillars were preserved, welcoming new villagers and suggesting memories of the past. The project demonstrates how traditional rural architecture can be thoughtfully repaired and adapted, weaving old and new into a coherent whole that honors village life.