Chinese style house. Making a garden in Japanese and Chinese style

The popular trend of oriental design is based on the spiritual and aesthetic principles of Chinese culture. Such a house is filled with peace and harmony. Exotic design is often confused with another popular Asian style - Japanese; characteristic features will help to distinguish them.

Differences between Chinese and Japanese interiors

The distribution of living space, the arrangement of furniture and the choice of colors are in the first case subject to the teachings of Feng Shui. This philosophy describes how to properly arrange rooms and objects to help beneficial energy move freely throughout the home. Residents of the island state are less strict in this regard.

The palette of Chinese interior is based on the symbolism of red, gold, blue flowers, which reflect mythological and religious beliefs. The Japanese prefer neutral shades on a light background.

The abundance of accessories (paintings, figurines, lanterns, screens, etc.) distinguishes Chinese design from minimalist Japanese.

To create an authentic environment in your home, use one of two methods:

study the energy of space and delimit the rooms according to the philosophy of Feng Shui, then fill the rooms with traditional decor;
leave the apartment layout unchanged and focus on typical accessories.

Forms

On the other hand, the rooms are clearly divided into segments by partitions made of dark wood - this introduces geometricism into the design. The partitions themselves are distinguished by complex, ornate patterns with many small details.

Color spectrum

Color design in chinese style full of symbolism and bright colors, while avoiding variegation and confusion:

red - power, strength and luck
yellow or gold - fame, wealth and power
blue or blue - nobility, nobility
green - peace, tranquility
the combination of white, black and red means harmony

There are also brown and beige shades. Gilding is a traditional color of oriental furnishings: from light golden to dark tones. It is used in furniture upholstery, carpet design, and curtain decor.

The combination of red and black is the most common and is suitable for wall decoration, furniture and accessories. If red is in large quantities seems too active, replace it with light beige or brown.

Furniture in Chinese interior

The basis of the Asian style is created by furniture with characteristic features:

made of natural dark wood (sandalwood, olive, oak, Manchurian walnut)
has a minimalist, squat shape
covered with multi-layer varnish
red-painted wood is decorated with national ornaments

Furniture for decorating an oriental apartment follows the principles of asceticism: the furnishings include sofas with low legs, lacquered stools, and round tea tables. Low cabinets and cabinets differ in capacity not due to their height, but due to their width and depth. Zoning is done using stationary and mobile screens. The room is filled with furniture from the center to the walls, similar to Japanese houses.

The interior of a Chinese style room involves decoration wooden surfaces intarsia (carved elements made of thin plywood). If European craftsmen make parts at the same level with the main surface, then in the East the plywood protrudes slightly, creating a thin relief.

Lighting principles

In Chinese interior design, calm and diffused light of warm colors (yellow or reddish) predominates. Central chandeliers are either not used at all, or they are chosen with shades that create shadows more than light. Local lighting is achieved through wall sconces, spotlights and table lamps.

Suitable materials for lampshades are white or colored paper, carved wood, black forged lanterns are appropriate.

Curtains should not block sunlight, so traditional version They are not used on windows. In a modern apartment decorated in oriental style, you can make an exception and hang classic light curtains or install roller blinds. In a private house, you can attach shutters.

Accessories

The easiest way to create a Chinese interior is to fill your home with accessories typical of this style. What can be used as decoration?

Figurines of tigers, dragons, monkeys, cranes - from very small in size to meter-long.
Paintings and engravings - in the form of ink engravings or full-fledged plot canvases. Hieroglyphic writing is often present, but we do not recommend blindly transferring these Chinese motifs into your interior: first study the meaning and symbolism of the image.
Porcelain - elegant floor and table vases, painted in the theme of epic battle scenes or with floral patterns. Floor-standing ones are usually placed in the corners of the room.
Fans are a bright decorative element. Suitable for decorating walls, and large specimens are mounted on special stands and placed along the walls.
Chinese lanterns in the interior are one of the most recognizable trends. Matte paper perfectly diffuses light, and the color of the flashlight - from very light shades to rich reds - is a convenient way to add a bright accent to your decor.
Decorative carvings adorn not only pieces of furniture, but doorways and sections of walls.
Skillfully embroidered satin pillows, silk carpets, paper umbrellas, incense sticks, bamboo stems, dwarf trees - all these are constant companions of oriental flavor.

Features of living room decoration

Chinese-style apartment design uses mostly natural materials.

Walls are plastered, painted or pasted over paper wallpaper. Paintings are applied to the painted surfaces - mountain landscapes, exotic birds, flowering plants, trees. Each image has a certain meaning and before choosing a topic it is better to find out the decoding.
One of the walls of the living room can be lined with dark wood, this will add contrast. The pattern and color of the cladding can overlap with the design of the ceiling or floor.
In the Chinese interior of a living room, special attention is paid to the ceilings. They are made multi-level, with contrast to a light background wooden structures. The backlight creates the illusion of sky and sun.
The traditional floor finish is solid boards in dark brown shades. Alternative options: mat-imitating carpet, laminate, bamboo parquet, large-format porcelain tiles in calm colors.

Kitchen Design

Compared to the Japanese, the interior of a Chinese-style kitchen is brighter, but here too the decor is based on the principles of minimalism. Furniture made of dark wood, lacquered, decorated with paintings or carvings is preferred. The countertops are made of natural stone. In the dining area there is furniture with low legs (sofas without upholstery, but with pillows, tea tables), a universally recognizable attribute of Chinese cuisine design - a set for a tea ceremony.

Few of our clients decide to build a house for permanent residence in an exotic style. But our last work was just from the category of non-standard architectural projects. The customer needed a project guest house in Chinese style.

By the time the client contacted him, the foundations of all planned structures had already been erected on his site - a house, a garage and a guest house. The first two were designed by another agency, but the client decided to order the guest house from us.

According to the plan, the entire ensemble of buildings should use elements of Chinese architecture.

Chinese style. What is he like?

Having decided to build a house in the Chinese style, you need to be faithful to it to the end. After all, the main feature of the style is the philosophical meaning of the surrounding material things. Each detail is ordered and harmonious, transmitting one or another energy force according to the teachings of Feng Shui.

The beginning of a unified system is taken already in the natural landscape on which the future building will be located. A Chinese-style structure should blend in with the surrounding landscape and look as natural as, for example, trees or flowers in a garden.

Therefore, Chinese architecture is characterized by smooth lines, the use of natural materials, and natural colors.

Natural wood was often used to decorate the exterior of the house, which was coated with bright red or black varnish.

The recognizable shape of the Chinese roof has a high roof with steep slopes, which is due to the natural feature of the Celestial Empire - frequent heavy rains, as well as the philosophical side, where mythology associated with dragons occupies a very important place.

A Chinese style house must be permeated sun rays. For this purpose, it is not even customary to curtain windows, and window openings are made of large sizes.

The use of gold-plated and mother-of-pearl details in the design is typical. A typical decorative element is images of dragons. The image of a Chinese house will not be complete without the typical street lanterns, decorated with tassels and painted with hieroglyphs.

Chinese style house project in a modern application

Look at the photo of our guest house with elements of the surrounding landscape. The area near the building is decorated with winding stone paths; the same smoothness of lines can be seen in the structure of the house itself and its component parts - from the curved roof, ending with ornate images of dragons on the corners of the roof, decorative balls of the terrace fencing, concave table legs in the barbecue gazebo. The presence of stones in the exterior can be mistaken for a stone garden.

The roof is designed only as an imitation of the Chinese one (without the use of special construction technology, far protruding corners and multi-tiered structures).

In the design of our Chinese style house we used facing brick, a natural stone, wooden consoles, flexible tiles, decking boards and natural wood of noble species.

The entire exterior of the building is planned on a “natural” harmonious contrast of light and dark (almost black) shades of natural wood, which fit so naturally into the natural landscape.

A characteristic feature of the Chinese style are large window openings, ready to warm the inhabitants of the house with life-giving sunlight. The glass is decorated with an abundance of crossed perpendicular lines of the frame binding, forming rectangles of different sizes. Such elements are also typical of Chinese homes.

The shine of mother-of-pearl is present in the design of decorative balls on the terrace fencing. The red color in the exterior is only indicated in the decor by hieroglyphs and tassels of street lamps.

Internal structure of the guest house

Plan interior spaces the design of the guest house is no different from any country cottage. There is a vestibule, a living room-kitchen-dining room, a bedroom, a dressing room, a bathroom, as well as a covered terrace with a barbecue gazebo and a woodshed for pleasant outdoor meals.

The total construction area is 152.5 sq. m. m.

An integral element of any country house - a fireplace - will be located in a cozy living room-kitchen-dining room. Combining three rooms will make the room brighter, more spacious and convenient for serving guests.

Conclusion

Chinese-style houses in modern architecture have received a new wave of distribution thanks to the currently fashionable hobby of Feng Shui. The territorial proximity of China and Russia has always contributed to the significant influence of centuries-old Chinese traditions on our culture.

Living in a house built in the Chinese style will be comfortable and easy for seekers who strive for harmony, and even those prone to mysticism. Proximity to natural principles is the best way to promote relaxation and filling with internal energy.

Try to plunge into oriental exoticism and bring the harmony of Feng Shui into your life.

Architectural bureau of Alexey Sukhov |

Option No. 2 with minor changes

Exotic lovers gravitate towards houses of different styles. If our climate is quite cool, and the houses of northern peoples are deprived of their usual comfort, then buildings in the oriental style are very interesting. Today, Chinese-style houses are built not only by brave people. This is not a formal saturation, but a special correct location all items that create comfort and harmony.

Chinese style for connoisseurs. Such a house can be built:

Lovers of Eastern culture are people who have lived there for a long time. To create such a house, you need to be interested not so much in design and art, but to respect their philosophy and organization of space.
People with excellent taste. It is very important in such a house to arrange accessories and furniture correctly and not create chaos.
Lovers bright colors. Chinese houses do not like halftones or pastel shades. The color should be bright and rich.

Having chosen a Chinese house project, you need to follow its style. And not only to externally make it look like a Chinese house, but also to furnish the interior accordingly and plant traditional gardens.

Divide space in Chinese

It is important to create correct layout Chinese house. It assumes the presence of one or two floors. Moreover, in a two-story building, the central hall extends to the entire height of the house. It is often supplemented with columns. The second floor, as in European houses, is given over to the living quarters of the owners of the house. If it is a one-story building, then they try to place the bedrooms away from the entrance. This layout was typical of old Chinese houses, which they most often try to recreate.

It is very good if the project includes courtyards. They can be closed or semi-closed. These are small islands of nature. It is very important to break proper garden: with gazebos, sandy paths, lawn, small pond, possibly a bridge.

Interior decoration

Most often, houses are built from wood - such material is not difficult to veneer. It is important for a Chinese home to choose the right combination of colors. The classic ones will be black, red and white. Red is the primary color. The rest are chosen very carefully. If your home decor includes Chinese tiles and figurines, then you need to find out exactly what symbolic meaning they have.

Individual rooms can be decorated in blue or yellow. Gold has always been a sign of the power inherent in the imperial caste, and the nobility decorated their homes with blue. With such rich colors, it is necessary to take care of lighting. The windows should be large. Doors and windows covered with paper are often placed between rooms, so more light will enter the rooms.

Asian-style houses tend to have an abundance of symbolic objects. Antique furniture, preferably low, sofas, lanterns, figurines and vases will create the right spirit. You should also avoid sharp corners. If it is necessary to change visual angles, objects are installed diagonally.

The roof is the trademark of the house

You can immediately distinguish a Chinese house from another by its roof. It is not that difficult to build a real Chinese roof, although today it is possible to make an imitation. Big variety building materials will help bring this idea to life. You can learn how to build a roof for a house on specialized websites.

Chinese roof design diagram

This roof has several differences from the ones we are used to:

Using post-and-beam construction rather than rafters.
Round tiles. It is convenient to fasten it together, and this shape also allows you to create cornices, joints between planes, and decorate the ends of the knowledge with special Chinese figures.
Heavy cornices. The structure always protrudes far beyond the walls of the house. This was not done by accident. This improves the stability of the house and protects the walls from precipitation. To support the weight of the cornices, special beams are placed outside the building.

Chinese style is one of the components of the so-called oriental interior style. Main feature in the oriental style is its exoticism. Unlike European culture, which prefers to create a more ordinary atmosphere in the house, the realities of the oriental style look more interesting and allow you to get a completely unique interior. This explains the continued popularity of the oriental style and the fact that increasingly in populated areas Asian-style houses are springing up.

Chinese style in the design of the facade of a house

The severity of forms, strict space saving and minimalism distinguish the Chinese style from many others. And this manifests itself in everything: in restrained, calm tones, which should be illuminated as much as possible.

Features of the direction:

The interior layout of the house should be created with the desire to minimize all elements and household appliances included in the design of a Chinese house, including furniture. Here, each element must occupy a place specially prepared for it.
But this does not mean that Chinese culture involves blind imitation of Japanese minimalism. Design interior design And exterior finishing Chinese-style houses are a special culture, consciousness and perception of the world. It allows the presence in the room of a slightly larger number of objects and accessories than in all other Far Eastern cultures.

There can be no clutter in the rooms of an Asian-style house, since this room has a special meaning, and unnecessary interior elements should not affect the relaxing atmosphere in it.

Interior layout

Space is very important to the Chinese people, and it is even more important for them to be in harmony with their surroundings. This is taught not only by the Asian people, but also by the rest of the people, the culture of Feng Shui, which helps to properly use space and all the objects in it. First of all, you need to remember that when creating a Chinese house with your own hands, you should not build sharp corners, install bulky furniture, and unnecessary equipment.

Avoid sharp and straight forms when decorating your home. To hide the corners of the room, you can use built-in corner furniture to brighten up the straight lines. It is recommended to hang a round tablecloth on tables.

Zoning:

Wall columns, which are in most cases a decorative element, can be used to round out flat wall surfaces. The same effect can be achieved by decorating the walls with silk fabrics or silky wallpaper, which depict photos of traditional Chinese flowers - chrysanthemums and peonies. You should not use bright colorful wallpaper to decorate walls.
There should be enough space in the hallway, but it should not be empty. The Chinese are known for their ability to properly divide and use space. This means that all decorative components are required to perform even practical functions.
To zone areas in Chinese houses, it is customary to use painted screens that can be easily moved from place to place. Unlike the austere simplicity of Japan, Chinese style design must use inner space more fully. For this purpose, you can create niches in the walls or arched structures with your own hands, in which you can place decorative toys and accessories.

Chinese style colors

Color is of particular importance in the Chinese style of interior and exterior interiors of houses. Since ancient times, the Chinese people have known their love for combinations of warm and cold shades, combining pastel colors with bright and large, color-saturated large interior elements.

A special meaning lies in two colors - yellow and blue, which must be present in the decoration of the house.

So:

Yellow is considered the color of the emperor and occupies a special place in the list of official symbols state power in China. Therefore, Chinese style always implies the use of this color in its palette.
Blue color is called the color of nobility; it will emphasize high social status person living in the house, or at least notes his desire to occupy a higher social position.
Interestingly, the color blue is not used in large quantities in the Chinese style home. And with a fleeting inspection of the room, it can hardly be noticed, as it is used in the line elements, which indicates the reserved and modest character of the owners of the house.
If there are only two mandatory colors in the interior, design It is impossible to imagine a Chinese house without the presence of red in it, symbolizing not only fire, as one of the forces of nature, but also the health and, consequently, the prosperity of the people living in the house.
As for furniture, the choice should fall on options made from natural material, for example, from bamboo. Furniture in a Chinese house consists of comfortable low sofas and tables that match them in size.
However, it is allowed to have a large dining table, because in Chinese tradition, when everyone gathers around the table big family. A popular coating is black lacquer, textiles, and covers with photographs of traditional Chinese motifs and ornaments.

Chinese-style furniture should be conservative and be selected in the same style.

For example, if you put a bamboo table in the living room, which is decorated with an openwork tsaga, then there is no longer room for modern furniture. Decorate the room with decorative elements such as mirrors, an aquarium with small catfish and carp. There should be niches in the walls for trinkets and souvenirs, unusual combinations of shelves, drawers and doors.

An important component in the room, which is given a Chinese style, are stools, small in size, varnished. Which can be installed inside each other, thus creating shelves on which you can place indoor flowers, porcelain figurines, in the form of people or animals. If these stools are not folded into a pyramid, then they can be used as tables at which you can drink tea.

Chinese style flooring and lighting

The main quality that characterizes Chinese style is the simplicity of the floor. Which should be a modest base for the rest of the items in the room - furniture and accessories. To make the space in the room look more spacious, you need to use marble, ceramic coating or other options made from natural materials.

Design features:

In a Chinese, as in a Japanese, house, carpets are almost never placed on the floor. And remember that you should limit yourself to 2 - 3 options floor coverings on whole house. This way you will achieve simplicity in style and will be able to eliminate the possibility of visual dissonance that arises when organizing different genders.
The most popular floor covering found in prefabricated houses from China is bamboo laminate, which is distinguished by its authentic oriental style and high environmental performance.
Another distinctive feature, which is relevant exclusively for China, is the complete absence of curtains and possible curtains on the windows. Moreover, there is no need to hang chandeliers in the house, which can be successfully replaced with ordinary incandescent lamps.

Soft lighting is achieved through the use of white paper lanterns or lamps with openwork light shades.

Building a Chinese style house

The Chinese style is, first of all, distinguished by its extraordinary roof. Therefore, before you build your own Chinese house, you need to build the most ordinary frame from natural material, it is better from wood, for example, from laminated veneer lumber, over which the simplest roof can be erected.

Carrying out work:

The load-bearing element of this structure is a single pillar located in the center of the house, reinforced in the foundation. This distinguishes Chinese houses from European structures, which involve distributing the load from the roof and roofing material onto load-bearing walls. Instructions according to which it is distributed on a Chinese roof in a rectangular rather than triangular form.
As consumables for creating a roof, you need to purchase support beams and boards. First of all, prepare a detailed work plan and draw an approximate roof diagram, with the help of which you can cope with the work much easier.
Place the leg of the rafter system perpendicular to the base. Attach support bars to the top of which, the opposite edges of which should be secured to the extreme points of the roof base.

The same work must be done on all sides of the rectangle. Then, using these rafter systems, a kind of sheathing is made - curved plywood is nailed tightly along the perimeter of the roof. A roofing covering, for example, tiles, is attached to the base prepared in this way. It is comfortable due to its softness and it will be very convenient for her to close the roof so interesting shape. The cost of building a house will increase if the tiles are replaced with a profile. Watch a video with recommendations for building a house in an oriental style.

The structure of the entire Chinese style house is created in such a way that they can withstand even earthquakes, since they occur quite often in their area. The Chinese roof rests on a central pillar and most often it is not even dug into the ground. As a result of this, the pillar restrains all vibrations of the earth's crust, and neither the house nor the roof can be destroyed.

A few dozen years earlier, the roofs of poor houses were covered with bamboo, and glazed tiles were only on expensive houses, and such roofing material was most often made from bright yellow clay. In addition, the roof was decorated with various images of animals playing the role of protectors of the house from evil forces. And besides, the roofs could be decorated with carvings, and its individual elements were decorated with oil paints.

Difference between Chinese and Japanese roofs

The Chinese style roof is somewhat different from traditional Japanese roofs. The fact is that in Japan, houses are built using a slightly different technology, there it is basically a frame covered with special paper. In our understanding, there are no windows or doors. And there all vertical planes are used exclusively as partitions. Such buildings are built for the reason that they are easily restored after an earthquake and do not cause much harm to people when a house collapses under the influence of underground forces. Also in the case of Japanese houses, a strong foundation is not used, and load-bearing walls are made of stone or brick.

If we take a closer look at Chinese roofs, then in essence they are a certain hip roof with all known corner shapes. But this is exceptional external property. The internal structure of the roof and its rafter system differs significantly from traditional European-style models.

Before you start creating a Chinese-style roof, you need to decide whether it will be a real Chinese roof or an imitation of it. If you create a real roof with a Chinese slope, then it will be an expensive pleasure, and if you are willing to spend a considerable amount of money on creating such a roof, then this option is for you. But if you want to make a summer gazebo in the Chinese style, then it is quite possible to use an imitation of a Chinese roof, since it will also blend harmoniously with the landscape.

Chinese roof - how to create it correctly?

The fashion for things in oriental style spreads all over the world from time to time and gains its fans. But there are also those people who do not succumb to such temporary fashion, since they are constant adherents of the East in literally everything, from food to architecture.

How is a Chinese roof created, can it be used to create a roof in a residential or utility room with your own hands, you can find out a little below.

A building built in the style of Far Eastern architecture can be easily distinguished from afar and literally at first glance, since such structures have an original and somewhat unusual appearance.

The main reason is the pronounced Chinese-style roof, with smoothly elongated upward corners. For any non-specialist in oriental-style roofing, such a roof is absolutely distinctive and original.

But upon closer examination of the roof, it can be noted that it has analogues in traditional European-style architecture; these can be so-called half-timbered or “Dutch” roofs. And the main difference is the bend at an angle and the complete absence of reverse bending of the ribs.

And therefore, in appearance, for Western classification, the design of a Chinese roof is not something special, since it is ordinary hip roof with a broken slope (here different parts of the slope have different angles tilt) or half-hip. But the half-hip is used only when there are skylights(there may be gables).

But the fact is that this will only be correct for the shape of the roof, since the fact is that load-bearing structures in Japan or Asia are specifically different from each other. And, therefore, before you start building a roof in the Chinese style, as already mentioned, decide what it will be original design a Chinese roof or simply an imitation of it, since there are a lot of differences.

Creating an original Chinese roof is much more difficult, and in fact it is necessary to create a building exclusively according to the Chinese canon. But in the case of an imitation of a Chinese roof, it will be possible to create it using familiar design solutions. But still, only professionals and experts in this matter can cope with the creation of both the first and second versions of the roof, because it has many features and difficulties

Before you build such a stylish roof with your own hands, you need to decide why it is so different from others. Its main element is a pagoda, that is, a stepped square roof with slightly curved edges. This type of roofing is made of wood; pine, larch, bamboo, oak, spruce are excellent for this; it is used for cladding. natural tiles, metal, stone tiles.

Such a Chinese-style roof can have several levels, which gives it a special charm, but also imposes certain obligations on the appearance of the entire house or building.

In this case, the gazebo should be light and open, and the residential building should have features similar to the traditional Chinese style. A stone and massive mansion with European features and such a roof will look ridiculous, so when choosing the overall design, pay attention to the consistency of its individual elements.

The roof, made in oriental style, is tent structure, the angles of which are greatly changed, although its internal structure is quite traditional. Its unusual appearance is due precisely to the corners that are curved upward. During construction, this most often causes difficulties. Difficulties arise in covering it with roofing materials and arranging the under-roof space.

You can build such a roof with your own hands, but this requires consultation with professional builders who will tell you the intricacies of Chinese architecture.
Nuances of construction

Why did roofs in China take on these particular shapes? What prompted the architects of that time to give them such unusual features? The answer, in general, is quite simple: this region is subject to increased seismic activity, so all buildings had to be not only durable, but also withstand any tremors that could destroy the roof and walls.

Therefore, this particular form of roof was chosen, which in the center would rest on a load-bearing pillar fixed at depth. The roof of houses of this shape became very reliable and durable, similar to an umbrella that sways in the wind but does not tip over. Almost every adult local resident could build such a structure.

When building a Chinese roof, you must immediately take into account all the nuances, which include:

feasibility of construction;

· availability of materials suitable for the work and, in general, the possibility of installing just such a design;

· availability of financial resources, since the construction of such a structure is quite expensive.
We analyze the complexity of the work and carry out installation

So how to build a Chinese-style roof with your own hands? Particular attention should be paid to the rafters and sheathing, since the reliability and appearance of the roof will depend on them. It is worth recalling that eastern architecture does not know what traditional frame technology is, that is, instead of the usual walls, there should be a special support column strictly in the middle, taking on the entire load. In European construction, load-bearing walls take on a similar load.

The roof load is distributed throughout the building in the form of a rectangle, according to the general shape, while the roofs we are used to have a triangular distribution. In addition, the design of a Chinese roof is often multi-tiered, consisting of several roofs stacked one on top of the other.

When constructing such a building, you need to contact an experienced architect who can tell you exactly how to implement such an idea correctly. The result should be a building that will protect from rain and will not suffer from earthquakes.
Roof installation

Let's now consider how to build a Chinese-style roof with your own hands. First, select the desired roof option and make a drawing of it. Do not forget that our climatic conditions allow us to make only an imitation of such a building. When constructing a simple structure, you can do it yourself. If you want something on a larger scale, then the work should be entrusted only to trusted specialists. An inexperienced team of workers who have only seen such a roof in pictures is unlikely to help you do anything worthwhile.

After calculations, we purchase materials and begin installation. First, we attach boards with a length of one and a half meters and a width of thirty centimeters in the center. We place the rafter leg in the center of the resulting base, that is, we get a support beam connected to the middle. Now we repeat the same with the other side of the structure. We thus obtain a quadrangular figure in the form of a cone with edges and a slightly curved base.

The sheathing is very simple: we nail it onto the rafters and supporting side beams. wooden boards, which should go perpendicular. So, the main structure, so to speak, the skeleton of the roof, is ready. Now we take plywood sheets, which we give flexibility with a number of notches, and attach them to the sheathing.

As roofing soft bitumen shingles are excellent, they are light in weight, perfectly follow all the curves of the roof, and have an attractive appearance. You can also cover the roof with copper, but this option is very expensive; before you decide on it, you need to carefully weigh the need for such a step, although Copper coating is considered the best. So, we’ve looked at how to build a Chinese-style roof with your own hands, now let’s move on to the tips.
Tips for building a Chinese roof

Most often, for Chinese roofs, bitumen shingles are used as roofing.

As we can see, the design is distinguished by its complexity and some simplicity, which greatly distinguishes it from traditional structures. We offer some advice from our experts that will help you independently figure out the construction of the simplest modification of an eastern roof and completely transform any structure that it will crown.

Before starting work, draw a thorough plan that will show all rafter system, which will allow not only to correctly collect, but also calculate the material. As a covering for roofing material, it is best to use moisture-resistant plywood, which will allow you to completely follow all the curves of the roof. Preferably plywood, and anything else wooden elements thoroughly impregnate with special antiseptic compounds that will help protect the structure from insects.

Chinese roof drawing

All roof elements are aligned according to a specific template, so before starting work, prepare such a template in life size. This will help reduce construction time and make it of higher quality.

The roof is the first thing you notice when you see a house made in the Chinese style. It can be single- or multi-tiered, but in any case, its massive design with curved edges gives the Chinese house, on the one hand, a kind of majesty, and on the other, elegance. The curved shape contributed to a significant reduction in the weight of the roof (by almost a third), which made it possible to build Chinese roofs of houses without rafters based on a post-and-beam structure.

The design of the Chinese roof is characterized by an angled bend and the absence of a reverse bend at the ribs. In terms of the internal structure and design of the rafter system, in certain details it differs significantly from European standards. For example, in contrast to the Western version, the absence in the Chinese version of a rafter system resting on load-bearing walls or the absence of rafter legs and struts, and tightening of hanging rafters.

Note that the load experienced by the roof, according to Chinese technology, is distributed throughout the structure, in contrast to the “European” triangle, in the form of a rectangle.

The construction of a Chinese roof in accordance with the relevant rules of traditional oriental architecture is a rather expensive undertaking. Therefore, it may be more advisable to start constructing its imitation or limit yourself to erecting a small pagoda on your site.

How to make a Chinese roof: stages of construction

Development of a roof project

First of all, you need to understand the configuration of the future roof and make a sketch. It should be noted right away that the construction of a hipped roof is associated with great difficulties. Therefore, it is better to opt for a simpler option - a gable roof with two gables. This option will satisfy the desire to have an exotic roof, and the work will be quite simple.

Support system design

The rafter system is designed according to the prepared sketch. In this case, it is necessary to achieve the result distinctive feature Chinese roof - its concave profile. There are two possible options for this.

Rafter system in the form of a pyramid with rectangular base

With such a device, the main element of the supporting structure is the rafter quadrangle. Installed on top of each other, they will form the desired pyramid.

In the case of a gable roof, the quadrangles will have the same length. The parabolic curve of the roof is obtained by selecting the width of the trusses and the height of the racks.

The material for the sheathing elements is boards with a thickness of 20 mm. They are fastened starting from the ridge towards the eaves, so the number of these segments on one line corresponds to the number of mounted rafter quadrangles.

The sheathing boards are positioned so that their joints are located in the middle edged boards rafter system.

Rafter system from hanging rafters

To install the rafter system you will need following materials:
boards with a section of 15x3 cm,
2 cm thick boards used for lathing,
plywood, the thickness of which is no more than 1 cm.

How to make a roof truss
The stand is fixed strictly in the middle of the support beam, while clearly maintaining a right angle (90⁰);
the distance between the stand and the edge of the support beam is divided in half. Next, one of the ends is fixed at the resulting point. rafter leg, and the second is attached to the free edge of the rack;

find the center of the rafter leg and at this point fix one end of the board, and the second, accordingly, attach it to the edge of the support beam;
to obtain a smoother bend of the roof, add an additional strut;
All these operations are repeated once again on the other side of the central pillar - in a mirror image relative to it.

Thus, the result will be a single truss truss. The number of such structural elements is determined depending on the size of the roof. It should be noted that the optimal distance between trusses is 0.5 - 0.7 m.
The next step after the device truss structure is the installation of the sheathing. The sheathing should be positioned horizontally, with its pitch determined by the width of the plywood.

Roofing device
After installing the sheathing, the next step is to begin installing the plywood. Cuts are made on the sheet to approximately ¾ of its thickness. This is necessary to ensure a tight fit of the plywood to the sheathing. The number of cuts is determined based on the bend of the slope: the larger the radius of its curvature, the greater the number of cuts required.
After installing the plywood in place, they proceed directly to installing the roof. It is recommended to cover such a roof either with roll materials or with individual flexible roofing materials, for example, bitumen shingles.

Tiles, of course, are more suitable for realizing the overall artistic design.

The Chinese style roof has curved ends. Which are decorated using ready-made metal or wooden structures.

The traditions of the East that have developed over several millennia determine the features of architectural landmarks and their elements. The Chinese roof was no exception. As a finishing element in Chinese homes and religious buildings, it is characterized by a variety of decorations and curved corners. There are even ancient legends explaining design features of this architectural element. According to one of them, at night dragons descend from rooftops with the aim of harming people. Thanks to the curved corners of the roof, they fail to do this and are forced to fly back into the sky. However, this is far from the only and not the most popular reason that today explains the presence of raised corners on Chinese-style roofs.

Modern architects offer a more prosaic and explainable, from the point of view practical features, version. In accordance with it, the presence of raised curved corners at the roof in the Chinese style is explained by the large amount of rainfall in the area where the construction of houses most often ends with the arrangement of such architectural elements. These design features of the Chinese roof contribute to more efficient removal of precipitation at a distant distance from the walls of the building. In addition, the protruding overhangs of the Chinese roof protect the interior of the building from excessive amounts of sunlight.

Design features of Chinese architecture

Due to fairly frequent earthquakes, Chinese buildings are designed in such a way that they can effectively withstand the high seismic activity of the area. This is achieved by the design features of the building and, in particular, the roof, which rests on a central pillar, often not even dug into the ground and designed to absorb vibrations of the earth's crust, which is aimed at protecting the building. In ancient times, the roofs of poor houses were covered with bamboo, while wealthy people decorated their homes with yellow glazed tiles made from clay. In addition, to decorate such roofs, decorative images of animals were used, according to the eastern inhabitants, protecting the house from evil spirits, and carvings; some elements were painted with oil paint.

Despite the similarity of the traditions of China and Japan, the construction of Japanese houses is carried out according to a completely different principle. In most cases, they are a frame covered with paper, and therefore they are more reminiscent of a structure without windows and doors. All vertically oriented planes serve as partitions, thanks to which the building can be quickly restored in the event of frequent earthquakes, and if the building is destroyed, the debris will not cause much harm to a person. The absence of a foundation and powerful load-bearing walls made of wood or stone only helps to increase the safety of the building.

The nuances of building a Chinese roof: what to pay attention to?

Before installing a Chinese roof, it is necessary to highlight its main differences from European roofing systems. The main element of the Chinese roof is the pagoda, characterized as a stepped square roof with raised edges. For the manufacture of Chinese roofing, wood is used - larch, pine, oak, spruce or bamboo, and facing material– stone tiles, metal or natural tiles.

The presence of several levels is a distinctive feature of the Chinese roof, which not only gives it a special charm, but also imposes certain obligations on the appearance of the house and its architectural concept.

Important! If you are planning to install a gazebo, complemented by a Chinese roof, the structure should be open and light, while the conceptual design of a residential building should clearly show the features of traditional oriental style. When choosing the overall design of a building, pay attention to its combination individual elements, since a massive stone house with European features, complemented by a Chinese-style roof, is unlikely to delight even the average person who knows nothing about architecture.

The spectacular openwork roof structure with edges directed towards the sky is the main element of the building, attracting attention when looking at works of Chinese architecture. Despite the fact that recreating the design of a Chinese roof is fraught with certain difficulties, if you follow the basic nuances, you can easily avoid them. Let's look at what these nuances are.

The main parameters of roofs made in the Chinese style, distinguishing them from works of European architecture:

· Unlike European buildings, works of Chinese architecture are built on the basis of a gutter-beam structure. The rafter system, which serves as the basis for European houses, rests on load-bearing walls, while the basis of Chinese buildings is a central pillar that takes on all the loads. The design of hanging rafters, which take place in European architecture, implies the presence of struts, rafter legs and tie rods. The support beams, ceiling beams and other elements characteristic of European construction are intended to give the structure rigidity and strength, but works of Chinese architecture lack these elements. If in European houses the arrangement of the rafter system is carried out according to the principle of a triangle, then the load distribution in eastern houses is carried out according to the principle of a rectangle;

· For the installation of Chinese roofing, cylindrical tiles are used, the unique shape of which is determined by the need to fasten them at the corner joints. To give the roof a special flavor, it is necessary to use a special profile and figures with fantastic images, called “qiang shou”. The installation of the roof ridge is carried out according to a similar scheme, with the Qiang shou being replaced with ceramic clamps, the specific “horned” configuration of which attracts attention when looking at a Chinese roof;

· Distinctive feature Chinese roofing is the use of large eaves that extend far beyond the building and thereby protect the building from excessive climatic influences, such as excessive ultraviolet radiation, strong wind and others. Due to the large weight of the eaves, the entire mass of the roof is distributed in such a way that the entire structure of the building acquires increased stability. As for the dougong cornice system, it completely takes on the weight of the cornices.

Important! Specific characteristics of Chinese roofing:

Uniform distribution of load in the horizontal and vertical planes of the frame;

The design of the Chinese roof assumes the presence of corners curved upward;

The upper part of the roof is characterized by the presence of a steep slope, which becomes gentler downwards.

An integral element of the Chinese roof are massive eaves that extend far beyond the external walls of the house;

To ensure timely removal of precipitation from the external surface of the roof and effective protection its internal surface from excess sunlight, it is equipped with overhangs, which also protrude above the external walls at a considerable distance;

Chinese roofs, characterized by a multi-tiered structure, are not uncommon in oriental architecture.

Chinese roof diagram: original or imitation?

If you still prefer a Chinese roof, you need to pay special attention to its design, since already at this stage it is important to decide whether you will preserve its unique design during the construction process or limit yourself to its external imitation. The construction of a unique structure is quite an expensive undertaking, whereas by performing only its external imitation, you can not only save money, but also build a building that is more practical for the middle zone.

Important! The main difference in the design of European and traditional eastern roofs is the presence or absence of a rafter system. The construction of houses in Japan and China involves the absence of rafters, since they are replaced by a support-beam system that is more resistant to frequent seismic activity. In this regard, in the case of erecting a structure in an area where there is no such danger, you can remain faithful to the structural systems traditional for the middle zone.

If you carefully study the photographs showing Chinese roofs, you will notice that they have many similarities with some structures familiar to the European continent, the most striking example of which is summer gazebo- a pagoda that fits well into the surrounding landscape.

First of all, decide on the configuration of the future roof and develop a roofing project. Experts believe that the construction of a hipped roof is fraught with certain difficulties, and therefore they recommend opting for simpler structures, giving preference to a gable roof with two gables. Despite the fact that this option is one of the simplest, you can still satisfy your desire to become the owner of a building, complemented by an exotic roofing structure.

Next stage involves designing a supporting system. Particular attention must be paid to the rafters and sheathing, since they determine the reliability and appearance of the roof. At the same time, do not forget that the use of traditional frame technology is not typical of oriental architecture, and therefore, the usual walls must be replaced with a support pillar located strictly in the middle and fully taking on all the loads. In traditional European construction, this function is performed by load-bearing walls.

Important! If the European ones we are used to roofing structures are characterized by a “triangular” load distribution, then this principle is alien to eastern architecture. The roof load in Chinese buildings is distributed over the surface of the building in the form of a rectangle, according to the general shape of the structure. In addition, Chinese roofs are characterized by a multi-tiered structure, and therefore they often consist of several roofs laid one on top of the other.

If you are planning to build a multi-tier structure, contact a professional architect who will tell you how to implement this idea correctly so that it effectively protects from rain and, at the same time, is resistant to earthquakes.

Before starting work, draw a detailed plan that shows the structural nuances of the rafter system in great detail. Thanks to this, you will be able to assemble it as accurately as possible and calculate required amount material. Most suitable material for arranging the covering under the roofing material, moisture-resistant plywood is used, the use of which will allow you to repeat all the roofing bends as accurately as possible. It is advisable to impregnate all wooden elements included in the roof structure, including moisture-resistant plywood, with antiseptic compounds to prevent damage by insects.

The design of the rafter system is carried out in accordance with the prepared sketch, while trying as much as possible to achieve the distinctive feature of the Chinese roof - its concave profile. To accomplish this, two versions of Chinese roofing have been developed.

How to build a Chinese roof: possible options
A rafter system based on a pyramid with a rectangular base

· If you prefer this arrangement option, know that the supporting system, in this case, is the rafter quadrangle. By placing them on top of each other, you will get the desired pyramid.

· If you are setting up gable roof, the length of both quadrilaterals will be the same. To obtain a parabolic roof curve, it is necessary to select the height of the racks and the width of the trusses. It is important to note that the most suitable material for the manufacture of sheathing elements are 20 mm thick boards. Starting from the ridges, they are attached towards the eaves, and therefore the number of segments located on the same line corresponds to the number of rafter quadrangles.

· The arrangement of the sheathing boards is carried out in such a way that their joints are located in the middle of the edged boards included in the sheathing.

Rafter system in the form of hanging rafters

To arrange such a rafter system, you will need the following materials:

· Boards with a cross-section of 15x3 cm;

· Boards required for arranging the sheathing, the thickness of which is 2 cm;

· Sheets moisture resistant plywood no more than 1 cm thick.

How to make a Chinese roof: making a rafter system

· Trying to clearly maintain a right angle (90 degrees), secure the stand exactly in the middle of the support beam;

· Divide the distance obtained between the stand and the support beam in half and fix one of the ends of the rafter leg at the resulting point. Secure the second end to the free edge of the stand;

· Determine the center of the rafter leg, then secure one end of the board at this point. The second end must be attached to the edge of the support beam;

· To obtain a smoother bend of the roof during the work, add an additional strut;

· In a mirror image from the central pillar, repeat all of the above operations on the other side of support pillar;

· Upon completion of the work you will receive a complete roof truss. Their number varies depending on the size of the roof. It is important to remember that the acceptable distance between trusses is 50-70 cm;

· The next stage of arranging the truss structure is the installation of the sheathing, which should be positioned horizontally. It is important to remember that the sheathing pitch is determined by the width of the plywood sheet;

· Having finished arranging the sheathing, you can begin installing the plywood. On a sheet of plywood, make cuts to 3/4 of its thickness, which is necessary to ensure a tighter fit of the plywood to the sheathing. The number of cuts performed is variable and depends on the bend of the roof slope. Their number is directly proportional to the radius of curvature of the slope (the larger it is, the greater the number of cuts that need to be made);

· Having installed the plywood in place, proceed to the actual installation of the roof. Experts recommend using for this roll materials or piece flexible material for roofing, for example, bitumen shingles, small slate tiles or euro tiles.

Important! If you want to fully realize your artistic vision, use soft bitumen shingles, which are characterized by their low weight, the ability to follow all the curves of a Chinese roof and an attractive appearance.

· For roofing, you can also use copper, which is one of the best and, at the same time, most expensive materials for Chinese roofing.

· The curved ends of the Chinese roof are formed using ready-made metal or wooden structures.

· The specific coloring of a Chinese roof can be realized with the help of decorative figurines of dragons and other animals, for the manufacture of which materials resistant to corrosion are used. high humidity and temperature changes.

If you think that you are not able to implement the traditional Chinese roof design yourself, but still want to build a building made in the oriental style, you should know that there are simplified versions of such designs.

· You can take a half-timbered roof structure as a basis and supplement it with specific elements to achieve the desired result;

· Or supplement the roof truss system with metal profiles of increased flexibility, thanks to which the roof configuration will acquire the necessary airiness.