Dongqian Lake Club Houses by Álvaro Siza Vieira & Carlos Castanheira

Despite being identical in size, function and materials, the five white villas each have their own individual character thanks to their different geometries. Photo: © Bowen Hou, Peking, CN

Five white residential buildings on the lake shore, with the Huamao Museum of Art Education (MoAE) and its black facade in the background. Photo: © Bowen Hou, Peking, CN

Part of a large master plan
In Ningbo, a metropolis south of Shanghai, lies the large Dongqian Lake on the outskirts of the city. The five new villas, like the museum, are part of a large urban master plan.

Design concept ‘Five Sisters’
The three-storey residential buildings are like five sisters with individual characters – similar, but not identical. They are similar in size, function and materials, but differ in their geometry and window design. Photo: © Bowen Hou, Peking, CN

The villas offer plenty of space for residents, guests and staff. There are also indoor and outdoor pools and various entertainment rooms such as the media room. Photo: © Bowen Hou, Peking, CN

Cubature, light and shadow
The homogeneous white plaster surfaces highlight the striking geometries and fine details of the buildings. The incident sunlight reinforces this effect: the appearance of the buildings changes depending on the time of day and weather conditions. Photo: © Bowen Hou, Peking, CN

Construction
The five residential buildings were constructed using solid construction methods with insulated cladding. The StoTherm Varioa facade insulation system with EPS insulation was chosen to insulate the reinforced concrete walls. The multi-layer facade structure is finished with a homogeneous surface of facade plaster and coating on the outside.

White, framed surfaces
The white façade surfaces are the most striking feature and also the connecting element of the buildings. The white does not blend into the sky. Instead, the monumental surfaces are framed by fine grey lines at the base and attic.