Tulou Collective Housing, also known as Urban Tulou, is a low rise apartment block in Nanhai, on the outskirts of the large city of Guangzhou in the Guangdong province of China. Part of a larger housing complex, it has 287 units, of which 245 are apartments for rent of 40m²; 24 are used as dormitories; and 18 are hotel rooms. The units are occupied by low-income groups, many of whom are migrant workers. The project is located next to a major highway, approached by a dirt road on land that lies at one end of the entire housing scheme.
The designer, Urbanus Architecture and Design of Shenzhen, is a very successful, ten year-old practice, known for its creative approach to design. The form is inspired by the traditional, circular, fortress-like, multi-family tulou houses found in the rural areas of the Fujian province. The Urban Tulou consists of an outer circular block, with a rectangular block within that has a courtyard and is connected to the outer ring by bridges. Both the circular and rectangular blocks contain apartment units, and the spaces in between are for circulation and community use. The lower floors contain shops, the management office, a restaurant and community facilities. The design is a result of extensive research not only about the traditional tulou but also the social dynamics of current urbanisation trends in China.
Its unique shape is a pleasant visual experience among the typical high rise blocks that are around it. The porous concrete screen with wooden inserts that wraps the circular facade is visually pleasing, apart from being an effective environmental filter for the balconies and the apartments behind. The positions of the units in the blocks allow good light and ventilation and thus a comfortable living environment. The corridors and the open spaces within allow active community interaction. The use of different colours in different part of the building not only helps identification but also adds gaiety to the environment. Rents are low and car owners are not allowed to live in the Urban Tulou, which adds to the homogeneity of the community. The residents are very satisfied with their lives here, although the aspirations of most are to move to bigger apartments when their incomes allow. They are also aware that they live in a building that is unique in terms of design.
The Urban Tulou is a unique experiment in low income housing and has potential replication possibilities as an affordable, comfortable and a visually pleasant urban form.