Project: Suzhou Tongli Villa
Architecture: Hangzhou Shihe Design
Lead Designer: Chen Kezhi, Wang Huaqiang
Location: Suzhou, China
Area: 450 m2
Year: 2025
Photo Credits: Hanmo Vision – Yigao
Suzhou Tongli Villa by Hangzhou Shihe Design embodies the deepest joy in the world: a home where time slows and emotions settle. From the moment you step into this serene courtyard, watching light dance on the ground and petals drift in the breeze, you discover a space crafted for quiet contemplation and natural flow. Indeed, Suzhou Tongli Villa invites you to pause your breath and simply be.
A Courtyard That Breathes
At the heart of the villa lies a sheltered courtyard, its doors left ajar to welcome gentle winds. Consequently, when rain falls, each drop tumbles onto stone tiles lit by soft lanterns, scattering ripples of light before gathering again. Moreover, without turning on a single lamp, the courtyard glows with those fine, scattered shimmers that fill your vision and calm your mind.
Layers of Material Warmth
Inside, two walls of plain mud stand in subtle gray relief, grounding the space in tradition. Meanwhile, warm pine wood floors and ceilings neatly absorb daily noise, creating a cocoon of tactile comfort. Therefore, every step echoes with the promise of stability, as natural materials remind you of the villa’s deep roots and the landscape beyond.
A Home That Speaks
Lead designer explains,
“After countless projects, I’ve never felt such genuine joy as when the homeowner began to ‘read’ her space—treating it as an extension of her body and rhythm of life. True success isn’t in the designer’s completion, but in the homeowner’s willingness to converse with the home.”
Indeed, this homeowner didn’t merely “use” the villa; she entrusted it with her memories, stories, and even her silences. As a result, the villa responds in kind, offering comfort from dawn’s first light to the hush of night.
Design as Daily Ritual
Ultimately, the measure of Suzhou Tongli Villa lies not in luxury finishes or bespoke furnishings, but in the homeowner’s desire to stay—and to open her heart to the space. Whether watching the rain dance across stone or sitting silently in pine-shadowed rooms, she coexists with the villa in perfect harmony, discovering that life’s richest moments unfold in stillness.
