The master plan for the MRD (Micro Residential District) in Changsha envisages 500,000 square metres of living space on 23.2 hectares of land.

In the southern part of the district, six apartment blocks with special demands regarding living concepts, sustainability, energy efficiency and ecological materials were designed by our office and are now realised.

The buildings combine the traditions of Chinese living, with a strict north-south orientation and modern living typologies in two-storey dwelling units. Connected through a void, individual spaces are located on the first floor and living spaces on the ground floor.

The apartments are fully glazed on the south sides. The projecting balconies block the sun in the summertime and allow good illumination and solar energy gain in the winter months. The heating is produced by a low-energy district heating power plant, cooling is fully natural and provided by cross-ventilation of the apartments.

Client Chang Sha Hui Feng Real Estate Ltd.
Architect: Pysall Ruge Architekten
Project partner: DBH Stadtplanungs GmbH, Hangzhou