Delong Villa

The DeLong villa is located in Guling, Fuzhou, with its unique geographic environment, has been a favored summer retreat for over a century, attracting both locals and foreigners alike. At its peak, 344 villas of various styles dotted the forested hills, alongside a complete array of facilities including the international benevolent society, tennis courts, swimming pools, churches, and post offices, forming a fully equipped resort.

The harmonious coexistence of locals and foreigners in this secluded area, even in times when transportation and communication were limited, gave birth to a unique local culture. The rich cultural heritage and the serene, peaceful living environment convinced Mr. Chen, a lover of history, to settle here and embrace a tranquil mountain lifestyle.

Located around 800 meters above sea level, Guling’s eastern slopes face the sea, making it a renowned summer escape. The area’s distinct geography creates a complex microclimate. In summer, winds from the coast funnel through the valleys, dispersing the heat while carrying moisture up the mountain. Consequently, during typhoon season, Guling experiences heavier winds and rains than the plains below. The dense vegetation and heavy morning dew also lead to high humidity, which poses a challenge for Mr. Chen’s antique furniture collection. This demands high standards of air-tightness and water-tightness for his home’s doors and windows.

To balance the need for ample natural light and scenic views with the stringent water-resistant requirements, Mr. Chen opted for large lifting sliding doors. CIVRO's lifting sliding doors, with their downward-pressing sealing strips, offer superior air-tightness and water resistance. The integrated drainage system effectively keeps rain and snow from entering, ensuring a dry and comfortable interior.

Having spent years studying and working in Japan, Mr. Chen developed a deep appreciation for Japanese aesthetics. His favorite tatami, which originated from China’s Tang Dynasty and is made from woven straw and reed mats, exudes a fresh, natural fragrance and is both dry and soft. Outside the tatami room, he created a Japanese-style garden, filled with gravel, meticulously arranged landscape stones, and resilient black pines, echoing the natural wood design inside the home. CIVRO’s folding doors maintain the perfect balance between indoor and outdoor spaces. When fully opened, the doors fold neatly to the side, leaving the view and the space entirely unobstructed.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes, Mr. Chen chose CIVRO’s lifting sliding doors to replace traditional walls, adopting a pillarless corner design that encloses the space with transparent yet solid sliding panels, allowing the unaltered outdoor scenery to be "framed" inside the home. When the doors are fully open, the boundary between indoors and outdoors vanishes, achieving true harmony between the two.

The public spaces of the home feature expansive glass panels to maximise both views and natural light, while the bedrooms are equipped with CIVRO’s turn and tilt windows, providing a restful environment for Mr. Chen and his family. When opened inward, the windows allow for cross-ventilation, carrying away the heat. When tilted, they ensure airflow during light rain while preventing water from splashing inside.

Thanks to CIVRO’s excellent thermal insulation, DeLong villa stays warm in winter and cool in summer without the need for air conditioning, maintaining a comfortable and pleasant indoor temperature year-round.

In addition to air-tightness and water-tightness, the durability of window and door materials is crucial to withstand Guling’s complex climate. CIVRO's MED surface treatment is not only aesthetically pleasing but also offers around 8,000 hours of accelerated weather resistance, outperforming traditional coating processes in corrosion resistance. For the window frames, Mr. Chen selected a combination of ceramic black for the exterior and zinc platinum gray for the interior. This elegant and understated color palette harmonizes perfectly with the home’s design, creating a cohesive and refined visual effect.