Interview about No.1 Courtyard Club, winner of the A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award 2020
Everything begins with nature, and all the beautiful life in the world is conceived by nature. In Sunac Xi 'an No.1 Courtyard home lobby project as a boutique community entrance lobby and community club, Fenhom Urodesign studio emphasizes the integration of architecture and nature as well as the fluidity of space. It is perfect, quiet, simple, comfortable, warm and innovative, making it the first choice for the leisure visitors of the urban elite.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsIn the No.1 Courtyard Club, wooden grilles channel airflow to create a gentle breeze, while plants grow over time into living sculptures. Skylights and grilles produce dynamic light patterns. The interplay of wind, vegetation, and light forms a natural narrative, breaking static boundaries and expressing the philosophy of living in harmony with nature.
Drawing inspiration from the calm and layered qualities of a bamboo grove, wooden grilles enclose the underground pool area and create dynamic light-and-shadow patterns. The result is a serene, private space where visitors can feel relaxed, enhancing the clubhouse’s luxurious and tranquil ambiance.
SOM’s precise spatial logic helped balance building structure with interior functions, organizing circulation in areas like the pool and gym. BIG’s narrative approach inspired the integration of natural elements, with wooden grilles and light-and-shadow patterns linking inside and out. Together, these strategies unify architecture and interior design, contributing to the project’s Iron A’ Design Award win.
To address the 5,600 mm floor-to-floor height, we applied a “vertical layering + element echo” strategy. The upper-level residential lobby uses warm wood finishes and low-saturation lighting to create a welcoming atmosphere, while the lower level extends the wooden grilles and maintains consistent stone flooring to carry the lobby’s materiality down to the subterranean facilities. The double-height space enhances transparency between levels, allowing each floor to maintain its distinct character while achieving a harmonious visual and experiential connection.
The combination of curved elements and hard stone balances soft transitions with spatial materiality. Curved lines soften the coldness of stone, creating a fluid guide that naturally transitions visitors’ emotions from outdoors to indoors. The stone, meanwhile, ensures a sense of high-end quality, aligning with the clubhouse’s positioning. Together, they make the reception area both ceremonial and welcoming, perfectly fulfilling its role as a transitional space.
We used light, shadow, and materials to create contrasting atmospheres while maintaining visual continuity. In the underground courtyard, artificial lighting is minimized and wooden grilles cast intricate shadows, producing a serene and mysterious ambiance. On the upper lobby level, large windows and bright finishes emphasize openness. Stone floors and wooden elements are consistently applied across both levels, serving as a visual thread that ensures continuity while allowing a dramatic shift in atmosphere between spaces.
Wood imparts a warm, natural feel and connects the interior with nature. Marble showcases its natural veining, while brushed stainless steel adds restrained elegance to balance the other two. Together, these materials let artificial surfaces reflect natural qualities, combining refined architecture with a sense of warmth and embodying the vision of architecture in harmony with nature.
We designed the space to harmonize luxury and sustainability. The gym, pool, and other amenities use energy-efficient lighting and water recycling, while wooden grilles and greenery introduce natural light and micro-ecosystems. This maintains a premium experience while blending natural elements and eco-friendly systems, meeting urban elites’ demand for luxurious yet sustainable leisure spaces.
We planned circulation with main corridors and guiding nodes. Wide corridors link the lobby, yoga room, and other core areas, while curved walls, wooden grilles, and light changes guide visitors at transitions. Stone flooring keeps the space connected, so each zone feels independent yet part of a coherent whole.
The No.1 Courtyard Club proves that luxury doesn’t have to be separate from nature. By blending materials, light, and greenery, the space feels both high-end and naturally warm. Going forward, luxury communities could bring nature into everyday life — wind, light, and plants in every functional area — creating living spaces where you can truly experience nature, and leading the way for nature-integrated luxury.
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