home is where the heart is

Ouse is reimagined for a mu family to gather for holidays in the bucolic setting of Yongjia in Zhejiang, China.

- Rebecca Lo

Chinese families have experienced tremendous changes over the past generation. With younger generations relocating to first and second tier cities to seek their fortune, villages in the countryside are turning grey with ageing inhabitants. Yet holidays often draw people back to their roots as they reconnect with loved ones far away from the stress of urban life.

One such family is the Gongs, whose ancestral village lies near the source of the Nanxia River in fields surrounded by the rugged hills of north Yongjia county in China’s Zhejiang province. While the elderly Gongs continue to live in the village, their six offspring have relocated elsewhere and established families of their own. Due to its rural location, travelling to the village is time-consuming; with many siblings accustomed to city life, the previous family home no longer suited their needs. To facilitate holiday gatherings of as many as 30 people across multiple generations, the Gong family enlisted the help of Shenzhen-based Various Associates to build them a dream house. The project spanned three years, resulting in an 800 sqm building set within a 248 sqm site. It was completed in January 2024.

something old, something new

The site is along the main road into the village and faces an ancient pavilion that has long been a community hub. The house’s entry is oriented to face the pavilion and allows neighbours to peek within the perimeter walls, where they are often met by the senior Gongs for a chat or game of mahjong in the courtyard. The four-storey house wraps around a long reflecting pool, while a fish pond extends out into the courtyard.