Ice & Snow Apartment, Zhangjiakou, China - Penda Architects

A+Architecture - Ice & Snow Apartment

Architizer+Awards 2015 features 100 of the best buildings in the world today including this Chinese ski chalet

Regular Phaidon.com readers will know that the great architecture website Architizer launched our new book with them, Architizer A+Awards 2015, at a gala awards ceremony in New York last week. We're going to be bringing you some of the most exciting projects from the book over the coming weeks and we start today with a really interesting apartment project in China. It's the Ice & Snow Apartment in Zhangjiakou created by Penda Architects. 

The design of the apartment is inspired by a melting snowfield in spring. When nature slowly revives from winter and offers a contrast of cold and warm, white and colorful. This atmosphere is translated into architecture by hand-plastered, white shells covering the walls and the ceiling to create a seamless space.

 

Ice & Snow Apartment, Zhangjiakou, China - Penda Architects
Ice & Snow Apartment, Zhangjiakou, China - Penda Architects

Partially cut by wooden boxes, the white shells infuse warmth and nature into the space for relaxing, conversing, and displaying artwork. The walls are raised two inches and backlit, separating the white shells and fir wood floor. 

 

Ice & Snow Apartment, Zhangjiakou, China - Penda Architects
Ice & Snow Apartment, Zhangjiakou, China - Penda Architects

These shells flow through the space, blending the hallway, public areas and private rooms. The apartment features seven bedrooms, a large cloakroom and storage for the skiing equipment, several bathrooms and a large living room in the centre. The curved walls guide the guests to a spiral staircase, which leads to a formal living and dining space upstairs with access to a large roof terrace. 

 

Ice & Snow Apartment, Zhangjiakou, China - Penda Architects
Ice & Snow Apartment, Zhangjiakou, China - Penda Architects

A network of heating pipes rests behind the plastered shells and emits warmth through the walls and throughout the apartment. The warmness, together with the handcrafted finish of the shells, provide what's described as a haptic and cozy feeling for the guests. See you on the slopes! Or, maybe we'll just stay in again today.  .  . 

 

Ice & Snow Apartment, Zhangjiakou, China - Penda Architects
Ice & Snow Apartment, Zhangjiakou, China - Penda Architects

There are 100 great projects like this featured in the book and we'll be bringing you a few of our favourites over the coming weeks. If you've seen enough and already know you'll love it, you can purchase it here.