Z House

Z House, a house for the architect’s parents in rural Beijing, renovates and adapts an abandoned courtyard house into a retirement residence. Anchored by a 30-meter Ailanthus tree that organizes circulation and views, the design reframes the heritage of traditional “Courtyard House” for contemporary living, integrating micro-farming and gardening into its domestic routines. Within a modest budget, it converts the timber-and-cobblestone main house into a passive dwelling, adds a kitchen and landscape, and reconstructs the perimeter wall and entry.