GTS Feature: A Poem in Gaochun Graceland

A Chinese-style house with a courtyard is like a little world where you can find human relations, sense of priority, poetry and aesthetics.

Nanjing Gaochun Graceland is such a little world. Here we invited landscape designer of GTS Mr. Zhang Qian and Mr. Yun Genzhi to share with us.

Q: As a designer, you have drawn a lot of drawings. Which one is your ideal house?

△Design Analysis Graphics of Nanjing Gaochun Graceland

Nanjing Gaochun Graceland is an ideal residential place in designers’ opinion. The central water yard design latest unveiled featured the layout. The sequence of landscape was arranged based on visitors’ tour line. Entering at the entrance, visitors would pass through the reception area, public corridor and the memorial gate and arrive at the central water yard.

In the entrance image area, the mountain constructs the shape, waters brings into artistic conception, and flowers link them all. The main entrance is open and majestic. The design of waterscape wall was inspired by the shape of You Zi Mountain with mirror surface waterscape. Three waterscapes means three petals of orchid, echoing with the theme of flowers.

△You Zi Mountain

The leisure area was designed with the sense of Orchid Pavilion. Water ran through the area with the shadows of trees. How poetic!

In the late autumn, you cannot help being attracted by Chinese tallow trees. Their leaves turn red like the fire, bring a feeling of passion. Pomegranate also bore fruits silently. Trees with heavy fruits were like the gifts to people who were diligent.

△Nanjing Gaochun Graceland

The public lanes of 7.5-meter wide led to the central water yard. It was 300 meters long. Along it, there were big trees, offering a feeling of returning back home.

△Nanjing Gaochun Graceland

Q: The central water yard was designed to be a space where neighbors had talks. Could you please give a detailed introduction so that readers could understand its connotation and charms in design?

When walking through the memorial gate, visitors could see a winding road with the shadows of trees dancing in the breeze. The landscape alongside the road were changing following steps. Not far away, pavilions were hidden in plants.

△Nanjing Gaochun Graceland

△Nanjing Gaochun Graceland

Corridors connecting with lanes lead to each buildings and divide the water yard, adding the interest of space changing. In the water yard, there is a waterside pavilion, one half pavilion and a 25-meter long corridor, playing the role of screen of water yard. The waterside pavilion and the half pavilion were also the end scape and opposite scenery of lanes, linking the two space. Siting in the pavilion, listen to water running and pine trees dancing.

Q: What kind of feeling did you want to deliver to the residents when designing the yard？And how did you implement it?

First of all, we put a pair of drum-shaped bearing stones that delivered a strong expression and improved the memorial sense when entering home. Coming into the house, plant landscape alongside welcomes the residents. On the right side, an alone feather maple with stone arrangement creates Chinese-style blank aesthetics.

△Nanjing Gaochun Graceland

Through the dining room and the living room, we will arrive at the main yard. There are leisure decking, tea pavilion, fishpond, small bridge and etc. The yard is also decorated with small things, such as stone lanterns, creating a Chinese-style landscape.

△Nanjing Gaochun Graceland

 [We choose more beautiful plants for better ornamental value. For example, we use Japanese crape myrtle with more beautiful crown instead of local crape myrtle.]

We also paid a lot of attentions to details. For example, the tea pavilion is used to enjoy the landscape of yard in different seasons. The rockery of Taihu Lake can create a winding path for water running. Small things, such as stone lantern, improve the richness and value of the yard.

△Nanjing Gaochun Graceland

After dinner, residents can sit on the decking to watch fishes and lotus, or play a music and taste tea in the tea pavilion. That is life, relaxed and comfortable.

△Nanjing Gaochun Graceland

To the west of the Project, it is the natural resources close to the scenic area. A path leads to the scenic area through Moon Gate. Surrounded by the Lake, islands in the Lake spread like stars, with green forest or red maple trees. Along the lake, we plant peach trees and willows. Visions become open and clear with rhythmic changes.