Five Scattered Houses, Ningbo

Five Scattered Houses is a residential project consisting of five separate dwellings spread throughout a large park in Ningbo. The structures blend modern design with traditional building methods, using local materials and local craftsmanship techniques.

The project was designed in 2008 by architect Wang Shu during a period of rapid urban growth in China. It responds to this transformation by preserving traditional building practices of Zhejiang Province through contemporary methods.

The houses reflect how traditional Chinese families organized their living spaces, with areas designed for both gathering and solitude. The layout supports the daily rhythm of shared meals and private moments that matter to residents.

The site offers walking paths between the houses and through the surrounding park, allowing visitors to explore the buildings and landscape at their own pace. Natural trails and open spaces make the grounds easy to navigate.

Each house sits at different elevations on the hillside, adapting naturally to the existing terrain rather than reshaping it. This arrangement maintains visual separation between structures while protecting natural habitats in the surrounding landscape.