Neri&Hu adds mesh-clad guesthouse to Shenzhen urban village

Chinese studio Neri&Hu has converted a nine-storey residential building in Nantou City, Shenzhen, into a guesthouse wrapped in a metal mesh.

The Shanghai-based studio aimed to reflect the cultural heritage of buildings in the Nantou City urban village within its design for the guesthouse.

The entrance of the guesthouse is directly connected to the alleyways of the local neighbourhood

It stripped back and cut open the original building's structure to reveal different layers of materials to guests.

According to the studio, this reflects an urban village – a phenomenon in China where agricultural villages were swallowed by the mass and speedy urbanisation but remain as distinct entities.

Neri&Hu inserted a new metal stairwell into the old structure

Existing, exposed structural elements were combined with modern additions throughout the building.

"The contrast and tension between old and new, past and present are very much part of the spacial and sectional experience of the project," said Lyndon Neri, founding partner of Neri&Hu.

The open facade allows natural light and street life into the building

The guesthouse's small entrance was designed to not stand out within the intricate narrow alleyways of the urban village.

It was clad in a light steel screen-like cladding that gives the building a modern appearance while letting natural light into the building.

All rooms are designed differently with unique view

An existing stairwell that previously connected all nine floors was cut open and expanded to create a new internal courtyard.

A metal stair was suspended within the space to allow visitors to access the upper floors.

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Neri&Hu designed each of the rooms to have its own individual identity.

"We made the building retain its original 'bones' and 'skin' but add another layer of covering, so it takes on multiple readings of history and presence," said Rossana Hu, founding partner of Neri&Hu.

The heavy volumes on the rooftop are designed to look like a hat

The building is topped with a dining space and rooftop terrace.

A pair of metallic monoliths sit on the rooftop platform containing heating and ventilation units that Hu said change the building "like a nice hat that gives a new identity".

Other recent buildings completed by Neri&Hu include a whisky distillery in Sichuan province and Aranya Art Center in Qinhuangdao.

The photography is by Hao Chen and top video is by Runzi Zhu.

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Project credits:

Client: Shenzhen Vanke Co

Architecture design: Neri&Hu Design and Research Office

Interior design: Neri&Hu Design and Research Office

FF &E design and procurement: Design Republic

Partners-in-charge: Lyndon Neri, Rossana Hu

Senior Associate-in-charge: Chris Chienchuan Chen

Senior Associate: Christine Chang

Associate: Sanif Xu

Design team: Bingxin Yang, Dian Wang, Ningxin Cheng, Peter Ye, Bernardo Taliani de Marchio, Cheng Jia, Xiaotang Tang, Jieqi Li, Pengpeng Zheng, Eric Zhou, Yoki Yu, Zhikang Wang, Tong Shu, Matthew Sung, Kany Liu, July Huang, Lyuqitiao Wang

Design Management: Urban Research Institute of China Vanke

LDI: Bowan Architecture Co., Ltd.

Facade consultants: PAG Facade Systems Co

Interior LDI: Hign Decoration Design Engineering Co

Lighting: Grand Sight Design International Limited

Landscape: Yuanye Landscape Design

Civil Engineering: West Construction Shenzhen

Facade contractors: Shanghai Bestin Industry Co; West Construction Shenzhen

Interior contractors: Shenzhen Chuangbao Decoration Co

Steel Construction: Shenzhen Chuangbao Decoration Co

Doors and windows ：Schüco International (Beijing) Co

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