A playful reimagining of a traditional Chinese siheyuan

Take Lezhi Camp, a 2,560 square metre playground in the hills of Kunming, Yunnan province, where visitors are encouraged to commune with nature both outdoors and in. At the heart of this ambitious educational and recreational facility is a siheyuan, or courtyard house, given a spirited 21st century twist by Joey Ho Tzung Hsien, of Pal Design Group.

Designed for little humans and grown-ups alike, Lezhi showcases many of the signature flourishes of the Taiwan-born, Hong Kong-based architectural and interior designer, whose distinctive children’s spaces can also be found in the SAR as well as farther afield. Think features that swoop joyfully, spark creativity and elevate the everyday.

The inland capital’s vulnerability to drought and water pollution seems worlds away from the lively reception area, activity space, tea room and cafe that make up much of the 860 square metre facility, a vital cultural component of the camp. Constructed originally in 2004 as a residential compound with buildings enclosing a garden, it housed restaurants before it was overhauled in late 2023, according to Ho.