Page 49 - JCAU-6-4

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Architectural complex of Yiyang Garden

style cement floor tiles laid on the ground and an open structure lacks independent kitchens or living rooms and
terrace on the top floor. Although initially designed to relies on corridors to connect individual rooms in series.
mimic Yulu (Li, 1990), field research reveals that the Architecturally, the inpatient buildings exhibit an eclectic
exterior walls of the annex are made of light yellow material, style, blending Western elements with traditional Chinese
presenting a symmetrical layout that complements Yulu’s wooden cottage designs. The spatial layout is notably
esthetic. However, in terms of spatial organization and more flexible and varied, and the simple window designs
functionality, it shares many similarities with Canton lack excessive decorative elements. However, all windows
Hospital. Both buildings feature enclosed corridor layouts, are oriented to face the sun, and the buildings feature
Western-style flat roofs, and large rooms located at the porches and terraces designed to provide patients with
corridor ends. The annex of Yulu is the only flat-roofed more exposure to the external environment and fresh air.
building in Yiyang Garden, distinguishing it from the In addition, these buildings are equipped with complete
traditional Chinese pitched roofs. This flat roof provides living spaces, making them ideal for long-term residency
patients with more space to enjoy sunlight. Canton and retirement care. Table 2 provides a summary of the
Hospital, designed by Huang Yuyu (Sun & Zhang, 2015), differences and key characteristics of these three types of
one of the first designers to return to China after studying inpatient buildings. More detailed information is provided
abroad, also featured an open terrace design, unique for its below:
time, with a pergola on the flat roof that allowed patients (i) Single-family house: Kelu was built before 1922
to enjoy sunbathing. Based on the remaining pergola by Chen Keyu, a famous general of the Northern
column bases on the annex roof, it can be inferred that a Expedition (Ye, 2020). The building follows a
similar design was used. In addition to the rooftop terrace, traditional Chinese style, featuring red brick walls and
the annex also boasts several balcony spaces. The second a green glazed tile-pitched roof. Located north of the
floor extends outward, offering a balcony with views of the Pearl River and facing south, Kelu has an L-shaped
Pearl River and the entire garden. The upper and lower plan with a northern entrance courtyard overlooking
floors of the annex are aligned, and the balcony integrates the river. The interior of the building consists of
with the entrance lobby space. The annex is designed in various-sized spaces, and the second floor features an
a combination of Chinese and Western styles, giving it exterior corridor with direct views of the Pearl River.
a unique appearance. It utilizes protruding polygonal These single-family houses, including Kelu, were built
volumes for window placement, creating a hexagonal bay at different times by different individuals, resulting in
façade. Compared to other buildings, the annex boasts diverse architectural types and styles. Compared to
larger rooms and higher ceilings, meeting the spatial other residential buildings on the island, single-family
requirements for surgical procedures. Furthermore, it houses occupy the largest area per household. These
includes a basement that can accommodate additional were private homes built by patients who chose to
medical equipment. construct their own residences after arriving at Yiyang
Garden, allowing their entire families to live together.
3.2. The inpatient buildings The houses are located east of the main buildings in
Based on the floor plans and usage of residential buildings Yiyang Garden and extend along the lakeside. Each
within Yiyang Garden, this article categorizes the inpatient house has an independent courtyard, faces south,
buildings into three types: single-family houses, apartment- enjoys excellent natural daylight, and offers some of
style housing, and inpatient buildings. The Kelu (可庐) the best views on the island.
and Tianfeng buildings, which were self-invested and (ii) Apartment house: The Red House is one of the four
constructed by hospital patients, fall under the single-family remaining hospital buildings and was originally used
house category. These buildings, located by the lotus pond as a residential building for wealthy merchants and
at the easternmost end of Yiyang Garden, were owned by celebrities (Li, 1990). It is an apartment-style building
a single household and featured well-designed layouts and where the first floor consists of four independent
favorable environmental conditions. On the other hand, the suites. Each suite includes a living room, bedroom,
Red House (红楼) falls under the apartment-style housing and bathroom. Compared to Building Eight, the
category. Its layout includes multiple households sharing a rooms in the Red House are larger, with more
common staircase, with each unit possessing independent, complete functions, and more luxuriously decorated.
well-equipped living spaces, including rooms, toilets, In front of the Red House is a pond, surrounded by
and balconies (Dong, 2013). Finally, Building Eight is several stone benches for patients to rest. Due to the
classified as an inpatient facility, located near the current complete medical facilities and beautiful environment
hospital inpatient buildings. Unlike the other types, this in Yiyang Garden, most of the early visitors who

Volume 6 Issue 4 (2024) 7 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.2830