Captain's House Renovation

The Captain's House sits at the northeast tip of the Huangqi Peninsula in Lianjiang County, Fujian, facing the Matsu Islands across the sea. Before renovation the building had long suffered sea wind and rain, with thin brick-concrete structure and safety risks; the humid coastal climate also caused widespread leaks. The family wanted to add a third floor to better meet current living needs. Design began by considering structural reinforcement; after comparison, the team chose to keep the original brick walls and add a 12-centimeter concrete layer, which meets reinforcement and expansion needs while offering opportunities to improve spatial quality. The new structure lets the layout be reworked: original brick walls can be removed or shifted; the two seaward bathrooms on first and second floors are moved toward the neighbor's side, improving ventilation and light while giving living room, dining room and master bedroom better sea views, and a new concrete frame supports the added floor.