Best 100+ Enchanting Chinese Traditional House Design For Every Budget

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From the amazing Chinese architecture throughout ancient dynasties to modern minimalist look of the 21st century, Chinese traditional house design is not merely a source of inspiration, but an art form in itself. For centuries, Chinese architecture has been influenced by dynasties and philosophical schools, creating a heritage of unmistakable beauty. In this article, we will explore the best Chinese traditional house design from ancient to contemporary and bring you cutting-edge trends in interior design.

Chinese Courtyard House Designs

Chinese courtyard house designs have been around for centuries, influencing much of the architecture of modern day China. This type of design involves many different elements, such as the strategic placement of gates, windows, walls, open spaces, and other elements that make up the courtyard. This design has a practical purpose as it helps to keep out pests and rain, while also aiding in the provision of privacy and comfort.

The courtyard house is composed of two to four levels, usually with the top levels for living, and the lower levels either for storage or for additional living space. This house design usually includes columns and posts that support the roof, as well as an open central courtyard or private pool. The courtyard itself is usually a square with four gates on each side, each defined by heavy posts and beams.

The Chinese courtyard house design offers many benefits, including extreme privacy, connection with the outside environment, and also reduces energy costs. It generally has fewer windows, resulting in warmer winters and cooler summers. These houses are also typically made of materials such as bricks, stone, hardwood, and tile which are low maintenance costs.

Chinese Courtyard House Designs

Chinese Garden House Designs

Chinese garden house designs are based on the traditional Chinese architecture of the ancient gardens of Chinese emperors. They incorporated rocks, ponds, trees, and pavilions into their designs to create a tranquil and harmonious atmosphere. These house designs are often composed of two separate sections: the living section and the garden section. The first floor typically includes the living room, dining room, bedrooms, and servant’s quarters, while the second floor typically includes the master bedroom, outdoor terraces, and a balcony.

The garden section of Chinese garden houses includes the flowers, the pond, bridge, and other features. In the traditional design, the garden is set low and is sunken, while the living section is elevated to provide a view of the pond and other features, and to protect the house from flooding. This garden section is often designed as a paradise-like oasis, incorporating many ancient elements such as ornate stone and wood carvings, sculptures, and intricate painted windows.

Chinese garden house designs are popular because of their unique beauty and natural connection with the environment. They often incorporate natural elements that reduce the house’s reliance on artificial energy sources and provide a tranquil and inviting atmosphere for the occupants.

Chinese Garden House Designs

Chinese Traditional Garden House Designs

Chinese traditional garden house designs are based on the ancient traditions of Chinese garden design. This type of house traditionally includes courtyards, green corridors, pavilions, and other unique elements. These elements are arranged harmoniously to create a sense of inner peace and tranquility. Traditional garden house designs usually incorporate various types of plants and trees such as bamboo, pines, flowering cherry and apricot, and rock formations such as mini-waterfalls and ponds.

The traditional Chinese garden house design is characterised by its high walls, sloping roofs, elaborate wooden structures, and curved edges. The interior is typically composed of a living room, dining room, bedrooms, and a separate space for servants. The exterior features green corridors, archways, pavilions, and other decorative elements.

This type of house design is often seen in large cities as an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Chinese traditional garden house designs emphasize natural beauty and bring a sense of peace and harmony to the occupants.

Chinese Traditional Garden House Designs

Chinese Earthen House Designs

Chinese earthen house designs originated in villages in the north of China, utilizing the local earth, stone, and other materials to create buildings that were both practical and aesthetically pleasing. This type of design often incorporated mud bricks, wooden or stone beams, tile floors, windows, and roofs made of wooden boards. Earthen houses have been around for many centuries, and were used by farmers, nomads, and employees of the local government.

This type of house design typically includes two floors, with the lower level containing a bedroom, a kitchen, a living room, and additional bedrooms in the upper level. There are often several courtyards and gardens for the occupants to enjoy. The exterior walls of earthen houses are white or yellow in colour, reflecting the local earth that was used in their construction.

Chinese earthen house designs emphasize a sense of safety, stability, and security, as the materials used in the construction are renewable resources that are resistant to weathering. Earthen houses have been gaining popularity in recent years due to their traditional aesthetic and lower cost of construction.

Chinese Earthen House Designs

Chinese Rice Granary House Designs

Chinese rice granary house designs utilize traditional Chinese structure and design elements that are incorporated in the layout and decoration of a traditional compound. These houses usually feature tiled roofs, wide eaves, and vertical walls. Windows and doors are often made of traditional frame-and-panel construction.

The living quarters of the compound usually consists of a main room with four supporting chambers and a main chamber in the center. The granary house design utilizes the use of natural ventilation and is elevated to avoid flooding. The exterior walls are often tiled, or constructed with dried mud and straw combined.

Chinese rice granary houses provide a simple and efficient design, utilizing local resources and traditional techniques to create a comfortable living space. This type of house often incorporates various features such as pavilions, gardens, ponds, and terraces, which in many ways reflects the Chinese traditions of harmonious living.

Chinese Rice Granary House Designs

Chinese Southern-Style House Designs

Chinese southern-style house designs are typically seen in the southeastern provinces of Fujian, Zhejiang, and Guangdong. This type of design features two to three stories, with the upper area for living and the lower area for storage or additional living space. The houses are usually square in shape with a central courtyard and tiled roof, where decoration often plays an important role.

Some of the most identifiable features of this design are tall brick pillars, ornate wooden carvings, and complex wall paintings. The upper housing stories often feature wide windows and cool inner courtyards, while the lower stories usually include kitchens, bathrooms, and other storage rooms.

Chinese southern-style house designs are highly sought after due to its unique aesthetic, comfortable living environment, and energy-saving features. The use of local, renewable materials and traditional construction techniques help to ensure long-term energy efficiency and cost savings.

Chinese Southern-Style House Designs

Chinese Farmhouse and Courtyard House Designs

Chinese farmhouse and courtyard house designs

In traditional Chinese design, the central courtyard is usually a square with four gates on each side, each defined by heavy posts and beams. This design provides privacy, connection with the outside environment, and reduces energy costs. The openness of the courtyard also makes it possible to create a sense of spaciousness, allowing natural light to enter the house.

Chinese farmhouse and courtyard house designs can be seen as a symbol of stability and security, in addition to providing a tranquil and comfortable living environment. Not only are these types of houses aesthetically pleasing, but they also provide many practical benefits.

Chinese Farmhouse and Courtyard House Designs

Chinese Rural House Designs

Chinese rural house designs use traditional Chinese structure and design elements to create a unique living space. These houses typically feature two levels, with the living area on the upper level and storage or additional bedrooms on the lower level. The design utilizes materials such as brick, stone, wood, and tile, that are more resistant to weathering.

A typical feature of Chinese rural house designs is the abundance of windows and courtyards. Windows are often used to allow natural light to penetrate deep into the house, while the courtyard acts as a refuge from the outside world. The walls of this type of house are also often white or yellow in colour, reflecting the appearance of the local soil.

Chinese rural house designs emphasize a sense of safety, stability, and security, by using locally available material and traditional construction techniques. The windows and courtyards provide a connection to the environment, while also providing a peaceful and comfortable living space.

Chinese Rural House Designs

Chinese Siheyuan House Designs

Chinese siheyuan house designs are based on the traditional courtyard houses of northern China. This type of house typically features a central courtyard surrounded by four main housing units, and often includes ancillary rooms such as stables, pavilions, and gardens. This traditional design is often seen in large cities as a luxurious escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.

The exterior walls of Chinese siheyuan house designs are often made of brick or stone, and the interiors are usually composed of several sections separated by walls. These sections often include a living room, kitchen, bedrooms, storage rooms, and servant quarters. Windows and doors are usually made of traditional frame-and-panel construction.

Chinese siheyuan house designs are known for their beauty and connection with nature. They emphasize elements of harmony and balance, providing a comfortable and refreshing living environment.

Chinese Siheyuan House Designs

Chinese Yiguandao House Designs

Chinese yiguandao house designs are based on a traditional Chinese religious tradition which emphasizes the use of nature and architecture to create harmony and peace. This type of house is composed of two levels, with the upper level typically used for living and the lower level for storage or additional living space. Yiguandao houses usually feature tiled roofs, wide eaves, and vertical walls.

This type of house typically includes several courtyards, a pond, and other features which are designed to provide spiritual and physical balance. Yiguandao house designs often incorporate traditional elements such as ornamental carvings and intricate painted windows which emphasize the connection to the spiritual.

Chinese yiguandao house designs are known for their beauty and peaceful atmosphere. They provide a sense of connection to nature, while also promoting a healthier lifestyle. The use of local, renewable materials and traditional construction techniques help to ensure long-term energy efficiency and cost savings.

Chinese Yiguandao House Designs

The Multidimensional Elements of Chinese Traditional House Design

chinese traditional house design The distinctive aesthetics of Chinese traditional house design possess a multidimensional quality. From the balance of yin and yang, to the various stylized roof and eaves structures, the influences of Chinese history, religiosity, and aesthetics are blended into the architectural construct. These elements, and the stories behind them, help to create a unique living atmosphere and a shared sense of identity among residents.

Colourful Eave-Tiling

chinese traditional house design One of the most eye-catching features in Chinese traditional house design is coloured glazed tile , commonly seen at the edge of roofs known as eaves. In addition to captivating the eyes, the colour is often thought to be an active participant in local feng shui practice, allowing people to draw positive energy from the environment. In the past, these glazed tiles were commonly used to depict images of animals or present the writings of philosophers, even though today's designs are more likely to be decorations with floral patterns.

The Folded Roof

chinese traditional house design A bowl-shaped folded roof is curated through the rigorous composition of rafters and ridgepoles, and often decorated with wooden series panels. The polished wood brings forth an ornate texture to the roof and develops a sense of grandeur to the architecture. Representing the principles of harmony and balance, these roofs are designed to tie in all the component elements of a building, creating a unified composition in the end.

Pavilions, Courtyards, Terraces and Gardens

chinese traditional house design Chinese traditional house designs are generally composed of a number of unique structures, with pavilions, courtyards, terraces and gardens forming various layers of interior and outer spaces. Defined by their exquisite feng shui ambience, these components breathe new life into a building and provide a comfortable living environment in which residents can enjoy their leisure time.

Form and Function

chinese traditional house design Chinese traditional house design satisfies both the user's practical needs and the general aesthetics by bringing forth a structure with refined form and function. Through the careful blend of shapes, spaces and details, the house acquires an organic composition that represents harmony, preciousness, and leisure. In traditional Chinese culture, it is thought that an exquisite living environment can bring the family a positive mood and a tranquil atmosphere.

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