CIPEA No . 4 House / AZL architects © Yao LiArchitects : AZL architectsLocation : Nanjing , Jiangsu Province , ChinaArchitect In Charge : Zhang LeiDesign Team : Zhang Lei , Jeffrey Cheng , Wang Wang , Wang YiCollaborator : Architectural Design & Planning Institute , NJUArea : 500 sqmYear : 2008 Photographs : Yao Li © Yao LiSituated in Laoshan Forest to the west of central Nanjing city , China International Practical Exhibition of Architecture ( CIPEA ) began in 2003 to bring twenty - four renowned international & domestic architects together onto one site . CIPEA consist of four public buildings and twenty small houses , in accordance with the brief , the houses should have at least five bedrooms , public spaces , and hospitality accommodations on 500 square meters . © Yao LiThe Number Four “ Blockhouse ” sits on a particularly valley site , nestling the house into the landscape . In the spirit of a pagoda , four cubic floors are stacked vertically , allowing for minimal site excavation and land use . The ground floor features living and dining spaces quietly enveloped in the surrounding forest and overlooking a stream , and a communal roof terrace rises to just above the trees . The roof merges into the landscape as another living space , complete with pool and wooden deck within the panorama of the forest . The geometric shape is sculpted from concrete and finished in a white protection surface . © Yao LiThe concept of Blockhouse is almost the living attitude of many Chinese : a minimal opening to the surrounding landscape is the only perforation of the richness inside the house . The horizontal break of each floor — in combination with larger unique curved apertures on each floor — frame vistas in the spirit of Chinese landscape scrolls . Prescribed views have a long tradition in Chinese art history and traditional Chinese gardens , designed to make the viewer reconsider and contemplate the landscape . First Floor Plan © Yao Li © Yao Li © Yao Li © Yao Li © Yao Li © Yao Li © Yao Li © Yao Li © Yao Li © Yao Li © Yao Li © Yao Li First Floor Plan Second Floor Plan Third Floor Plan Fourth Floor Plan Site Plan Section North Facade West Facade South Facade East Facade * Location to be used only as a reference . It could indicate city / country but not exact address .