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House of Rasing the Umbrella: Chaoffice's Family Renovation Amid Mature Trees

architecture-design · 2026-08-19

Chaoffice's architectural renovation, known as the House of Raising the Umbrella, caters to a family of four who cherish life. The father is passionate about ceramics, while the mother adorns the walls with her artwork, and the children find joy in making music together. As the boys matured, they required more personal space, leading the parents to enhance and enlarge the house. Their aim was to provide ample room for everyone and to accommodate future adjustments for the family's changing needs. The character of the project is significantly influenced by the courtyard's trees: Chinese scholar trees, persimmon trees, and ginkgo trees, which create a lush canopy that connects with the surrounding forest. This greenery fosters a strong sense of returning to nature and intentional solitude. The house sits at the intersection of human life and nature, leaving the question of which came first—house or trees—unanswered, thus enriching the site's narrative. The renovation effectively merges the family's functional needs with the landscape's natural essence.

Key facts

  • The house is named House of Rasing the Umbrella.
  • The renovation project is by the architectural office Chaoffice.
  • The household consists of four family members.
  • The father pursues ceramics, the mother paints, and the children play music.
  • The sons' need for personal space motivated the renovation.
  • The renovation aims to expand the usable area of the house.
  • The courtyard contains Chinese scholar trees, persimmon trees, and ginkgo trees.
  • It is unknown whether the house or the trees existed first on the site.

Entities

Institutions

  • Chaoffice

Sources