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Walking through the winding streets and alleys, hidden in the white walls and gray tiles, listening to the sound of wheels rolling over the bluestone slabs, “䒻 Garden” is right in front of me.

Starting from December 2022, designer Sun Yuanliang moved his studio into this small courtyard and also used it as his own vacation home.

In the Ming Dynasty medical classic “Compendium of Materia Medica”, “䒻” is the name of a type of herbal medicine. Another word, “屺”  originally means a mountain without vegetation, so the “䒻” of “䒻 Garden” also expresses the good will of the designer and owner to live in the urban mountain forest, based in the south of the Yangtze River, connecting with nature, and outlining the poetic life of contemporary Chinese people.

This is a residential building located in the ancient city of Suzhou, purchased by designer Sun Yuanliang in June 2018. It is only a 15 minute walk from the most famous Jiangnan gardens, Humble Administrator’s Garden, Lion Grove, and the Suzhou Museum designed by I.M. Pei. To the east is the Pingjiang Road Historical District, which is a 2-kilometer walk to Suzhou Park. Unlike the bustling tourist viewing area, this place is particularly quiet, with ordinary residents living nearby. The sounds of conversation, barking dogs, and bicycle bells can be heard incessantly. 

The most impressive thing is when looking out from the Second floor window sill, the entire west side is a well preserved Suzhou old building roof, and the house you are in is also a high point, with a panoramic view. Fireworks life and memories of time intertwine with different times and stories, silently yet deeply moving people’s hearts.

The old city area of Suzhou is a large public living area where people chat and cool off in the alleys. It is an open and inclusive state. Some elderly people will chat with you about daily life, and neighbors will help each other. You can also hear old stories from them. Walking through the streets and alleys for breakfast in the morning, the light and shadow constantly change. Living here, you can see others, and others can see you. The connection with real life deepens our understanding of ourselves and others, and deepens our understanding of design.

Starting from the entrance, the small courtyard is a miniature version of a typical Jiangnan garden, and the moon cave gate reflects the lush plants. Suzhou gardens emphasize the technique of framing scenery, with each door and window serving as a frame, allowing plants to grow freely within. Designers advocate for minimal intervention in this design.

Passing through the interior of the space and delving deeper, another larger courtyard is hidden at the end. In the early stages of construction, the mountains were stacked and the water was sorted out, and a pond was dug out. This concentrated landscape contained a rich natural atmosphere. Different lights shining on this side of the pool create different vitality. A sturdy pine tree grows against the wall amidst the rocks.

Designer Sun Yuanliang has transformed the classical pavilion in the corner into a modern steel structure pavilion. Sitting down to enjoy tea and the scenery, there is a rustic charm, elegant yet not ancient. You can get a close-up view of plants, flowers, and plants, and hang your hand to play with fish.

Due to the fact that the small courtyard is adjacent to a slightly towering building, Designer Sun Yuanliang built several grilles to prevent the building from exerting a sense of oppression on the courtyard. This not only enriches the spatial hierarchy, harmonizes natural light, and increases privacy, but also blocks the neighboring buildings from view, allowing people to chat under the grilles and focus on the scenery in front of them.

The courtyard has a good continuity relationship with the internal space. From the inside out, in the flowing space, people’s vision is not obstructed, light and air are not blocked, the continuity of materials, and the slow progress of rhythm create a peaceful and inclusive spatial atmosphere, allowing for free and leisurely movement.

The dialogue between new and old “is the theme of space, which cannot create a sense of distance between architectural design and people. All people and spaces should be connected together, and designers hope that people can come closer here. 

Introduce buildings and scenery with stories into the house, and express the interior with minimalist design. Space and space are open and integrated, where every friend can find a comfortable state, sitting on different sofas, looking at clouds and trees by the window. The inclusiveness of space comes from the connection with nature, and the body is the most honest. 

The lines of the space are simple and functional, suitable for contemporary life, showcasing the pursuit of quality of life through classic furniture design. Without strong symbols to express oneself, abandoning the cultural baggage, compared to nature, ‘oneself’ is very small. All forms, colors, materials, light and shadow that come from nature and move towards the human spiritual world are interdependent and transformed.