Together with Beijing’s National Stadium, the so-known Bird’s Nest, Water Cube, Beijing Airport Terminal 3 and 11 other architectural works, Nine Tree Village was honored with a 2009 RIBA International Award on June 14, 2009 in the well-known Durbar Court at the British Foreign Ministry.

The RIBA International Awards reward excellent work by RIBA members around the world.

This is the first time an apartment scheme received such a valuable and respected award. Among RIBA’s listed architectural pieces each year, public utilities always account for the majority. However, 2 apartment projects appeared on the list of 2009, in which Nine Tree Village, built in the city of Hangzhou, was the first Chinese apartment building to win an award.

Seated in a tranquil valley to the south of Wuyun Mountain in West Lake District, Nine Tree Village was designed by DCA and led by one of the most influential architects---David Chipperfield. Constructed and decorated with selected materials and appliances, the exclusive 60 apartments in the compound blending European and oriental traditions.

Like those luxurious villas in Europe, the apartment layout reflects an openness and flexibility of large space with a mixture of light and scenery emphasized by large windows and walls.

Oriental elements can be found in the 360 degree corridor surrounding the apartment and the removable wooden fences outside of the corridor, transferring the theme of Chinese brush painting and “peace & thinking” from Japanese Zen architecture.

The interior design follows the same pattern. Large pieces of volcanic tiles spread from the corridor to the floor of the bedroom forms a living backdrop with peace and grandosity, while in the bathroom, a walk-in wardrobe and kitchen, red travertine, golden travertine, green granite, grey aluminum alloy as well as colorful fabric with Chinese patterns all are mixed into a glaring and splendid picture. Though the decoration elements are typical Chinese crafts and material, finishing technique is quite western with abstract stripes and plain figures.

David Chipperfield said, “what I like in this project is not the building itself but the people.” 60 families from all walks of life living in such a close surrounding can feel that they are a team or a group. You can’t ignore your neighbor. When you live in this side, some other people are living on the other side. Every night you will see lights on and off. But distance is still kept by those fences. So you won’t feel that far or that near.

Editor: Liu Fang