Cuandixia

Wedged between mountains, this small Chinese settlement climbs in the direction of peaks arising from the valley route. The terraced hillside cultivation above the village cuts sharp lines into the natural landscape. Stone counterforts supporting the terraces grow higher and thicker while approaching the houses, and they are also complemented with stairs. The tracery of this growing composition is based on the system of counterforts and highlights the terrain’s contours. Courtyard houses adhere to the terrain’s lines and abutments in a sequence like swallows’ nests do. They are accessible via less steep stairs along the counterforts or steeper ones perpendicular to them. The high-density, single-storey development on the south-facing slope is articulated by sunlit courtyards of fine proportions.