{"id":1695,"date":"2025-06-19T09:20:32","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T09:20:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.diamondstatemanagement.com\/?p=1695"},"modified":"2025-06-21T15:06:16","modified_gmt":"2025-06-21T15:06:16","slug":"transforming-roofscape-expands-over-timber-farmhouse-in-yunnan-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.diamondstatemanagement.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/19\/transforming-roofscape-expands-over-timber-farmhouse-in-yunnan-china\/","title":{"rendered":"transforming roofscape expands over timber farmhouse in yunnan, china"},"content":{"rendered":"

dynamic roof defines the Ridge Farmhouse’s spatial character<\/h2>\n

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The Ridge, a timber<\/a><\/strong> prototype by Olivier Ottevaere and University of Hong Kong students, explores how the natural environment and its physical forces can invigorate the interior living through its dynamic roof<\/a><\/strong> design. Sited in the high mountains of rural Yunnan, China<\/a><\/strong>, the project makes full use of its sloped terrain and expansive vistas to delineate a varied timber structure mainly comprising eleven evolving trusses. The house spans one to three levels, with the roofscape’s gradual transformation most dramatically expressed through the pronounced ceiling plane experienced from within. The design is carefully tuned to its cardinal orientations. Each facade differs in shape and size to capture the unique natural sunlight specific to its direction, energizing the interior spaces, living areas below, and sleeping quarters above, throughout the day\u2019s progression.<\/p>\n

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all images courtesy of The University of Hong Kong<\/a><\/p>\n

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Ridge doubles as a farmhouse and a community gathering space<\/h2>\n

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Beyond its residential function, the farmhouse also serves as a community center where local villagers gather socially and, as seasons go by, deliberate on crop selections, farming distribution to enhance their collective agricultural production, and local economy. The Ridge project originated as an educational program in design and construction, led by designer<\/a><\/strong> Olivier Ottevaere. The taught hands-on course exposes students to the physical act of making architecture through on-site construction experience at a scale impossible in the classroom, one that they can inhabit while building. Working alongside local carpenters and construction workers, students embark on a building journey that addresses a real site, a critical program, and a unique local culture through knowledge exchange and experiential learning.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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roofline opens up to the expansive landscape while providing shade to the outdoor terrace<\/p>\n

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a dynamic roofscape defines the building\u2019s spatial character<\/p>\n

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the house spans between one and three levels across sloped terrain<\/p>\n

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each facade is tuned to capture light from a different direction<\/p>\n

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timber prototype ‘The Ridge’ sits in the high mountains of rural Yunnan, China<\/p>\n

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The Ridge doubles as a farmhouse and a community gathering space<\/p>\n

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eleven evolving timber trusses form the structure\u2019s core<\/p>\n

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interior ceilings reveal the roof\u2019s gradual transformation<\/p>\n

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local villagers use the space to plan agricultural activities<\/p>\n

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‘The Ridge’ project blends architectural learning with cultural exchange<\/p>\n

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sunlight animates the living spaces throughout the day<\/p>\n

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sleeping quarters are positioned above, oriented for light and view<\/p>\n

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the bedroom mezzanine opens towards the double-height living space<\/p>\n

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students gained hands-on experience in full-scale construction<\/p>\n

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the team collaborated closely with local carpenters and builders<\/p>\n

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project info:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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name:<\/strong>\u00a0The Ridge \u2013 Roofing in Motion.
\narchitects:<\/strong>\u00a0Olivier Ottevaere – The University of Hong Kong, the Human Intelligence Master program of Architecture, HKU<\/a> | @hkuarchitecture<\/a><\/p>\n

local contractor:<\/strong> Chengdu Xingcun Construction Engineering Co., Ltd. (\u6210\u90fd\u884c\u6751\u5efa\u7b51\u5de5\u7a0b\u6709\u9650\u516c\u53f8)<\/p>\n

area:<\/strong> 240 sqm<\/p>\n

location:<\/strong> Yiliang, Zhaotong, Yunnan Province, China<\/p>\n

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designboom has received this project from our\u00a0<\/i>DIY submissions<\/i><\/span><\/a>\u00a0feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers\u00a0<\/i>here.<\/i><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom<\/i><\/p>\n<\/article>\n

The post transforming roofscape expands over timber farmhouse in yunnan, china<\/a> appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

dynamic roof defines the Ridge Farmhouse’s spatial character   The Ridge, a timber prototype by Olivier Ottevaere and University of Hong Kong students, explores how the natural environment and its physical forces can invigorate the interior living through its dynamic roof design. Sited in the high mountains of rural Yunnan, China, the project makes full […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1698,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[14],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.diamondstatemanagement.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1695"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.diamondstatemanagement.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.diamondstatemanagement.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.diamondstatemanagement.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.diamondstatemanagement.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1695"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.diamondstatemanagement.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1695\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1715,"href":"http:\/\/www.diamondstatemanagement.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1695\/revisions\/1715"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.diamondstatemanagement.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1698"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.diamondstatemanagement.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1695"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.diamondstatemanagement.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1695"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.diamondstatemanagement.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1695"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}