Modern Residential House on Miaotang Lane

Modern Residential House on Miaotang Lane

The modern residential house on Miaotang Lane is a Suzhou Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The modern residential house on Miaotang Lane is located on Miaotang Lane, Yangyuxiang, and was designated as a Suzhou Municipal Cultural Relics Protection Unit in 1991.

The house was originally the villa of the owner of Lei Yunshang, a traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy. Built around 1935, it covers an area of 2,660 square meters. The original western-style Chinese courtyard in the west has been demolished, and only an eastern two-story Western-style building remains. The building faces south and is oriented north, spanning three bays with a concave-shaped floor plan. The central bay is set back, featuring a front porch with four Romanesque round pillars supporting the upper-floor balcony. The side bays on the east and west project outward, with semi-walls fitted with glass windows that ensure excellent ventilation and lighting. The upper floor consists of multiple living rooms and includes a false third floor, with three skylights installed. The roof is covered with red tiles. The building features a simple and neat floor plan, an elegant and tidy façade, a rational interior layout, and high-quality flooring, plasterwork, and finishes. In recent years, it has undergone renovations with some additional interior decorations, but its external appearance remains unchanged. Between 1992 and 1993, a sanatorium rebuilt a small courtyard on the site of the former western Chinese courtyard, which includes a pond surrounded by lake rocks and rockeries, thoughtfully arranged with a square pavilion and a small bridge. Various flowers and trees have been planted, and a fountain has been installed in the pond, along with koi fish.