3D Architectural Interior Design

3D Architectural Interior Design

Jinghong Chen (Rebecca)

Si He Yuan is a classical architecture style of residential housing of Beijing citizens dated from the Ming Dynasty. Foreign visitors often think siheyuan is bungalow, actually it is not bungalow. It is traditional graceful Chinese building and it is Chinese oldest traditional cultural symbols. "四" represents the four corners of the world on all sides; "合" is means stay with together, which is the basic feature of courtyard. Courtyards are very elegant structures especially when one sees them in large scale as at Tiananmen Square in Beijing which is probably the most famous example. (See picture 1)

Beijing's courtyard houses whether they are large or small, scattered, or in a bustling street, or is in a secluded place form a human psychological, preserving traditional culture and embrace the neighborhood of harmonious living environment. Another aspect of this design is the garden. Courtyard garden in the Middle, place spacious, tree-planting flowers in the garden, cylinder feeding goldfish, is central to the courtyard, as well as people walk through.

A standard Siheyuan usually consists of houses on its four sides and the house which stands at the north end and faces the south is called the main house or north house. The north house in the yard is built first in brick on a platform and is bigger than other houses; it is where the master's living rooms are. The ones on both sides are called side houses, and rooms were other family members are housed. The one which stands at the south end and faces north is called opposite house or south house. In between court yard and the rooms is a built corridor and can be for people to walk and rest. Courtyard walls which face the street and are on the outside of the houses does not generally have windows, the windows are on the inside which creates a quiet of the environment. (See image 2)

The Siheyuan‘s gate is usually at the south eastern corner according to the traditional concepts of the five elements that were believed to compose the universe, and the eight diagrams of divination. Normally there is a screen-wall inside the gate so that outsiders cannot see directly into the courtyard and it is also believed to protect the house from evil spirits. Outside the gate of some large siheyuan, there is a pair of stone lions on each side. Such a residence offers space, comfort and quiet privacy. It is also good for security as well as protection against dust and storms.

The gates are usually painted vermilion and have large copper door rings. Usually a whole family lives in one compound. The elder generation lives in the main house, the younger generation live in the side houses, and the south house is usually their sitting room or study.

The narrow streets between the Si He Yuan are called "Hutong"s. A single implementation of Si He Yuan comprises of garden surrounded by four houses and protected by high walls. Si He Yuan with Hutong which have been very familiar for people, having a history of more than 700 years now suffer from the urban renovation and economic development of China, and they are slowly disappearing from Beijing.