The Lin Family Residence in Nan’an

The Lin Family Residence in Nan’an

The Lin Family Residence in Nan’an is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Fujian.

Era: Qing Dynasty

Address: Nan’an City, Quanzhou, Fujian Province

The Lin Family Residence (Lin Lu Cuo) is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Fujian, one of the “Top Ten Ancient Residences” in Quanzhou, and the former site of the Nan’an County Party School. It is a complex of residential buildings designed and built by the renowned overseas Chinese architect Lin Lu upon his return to his hometown. The construction was completed in the 34th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1908).

The founder of the residence, Lin Lu, was a well-known overseas Chinese architect in Singapore at the time. He was responsible for constructing Victoria Memorial Hall, the most magnificent building in Singapore back then. The main structure of Lin Lu Cuo consists of four parallel sections: an ancestral hall, residential buildings, and study rooms, covering an area of 3,000 square meters. It features a stone-paved courtyard, a waterside pavilion, and a pond at the front. The architectural style is primarily that of traditional Minnan residences, characterized by red bricks, flush gable roofs, a central courtyard with wing rooms on both sides. The corner towers have a Western-style exterior, while parts of the interior decoration use cement floral tiles. The original Lin Lu Cuo covered an area of 6.5 mu and had a total of 99 rooms of various sizes. Most of the construction materials were imported from overseas, including the cement floor tiles which remain well-preserved after a century.

The ingenious aspect of Lin Lu Cuo lies in the seamless integration of foreign design elements with the traditional Minnan architectural structure, resulting in more rational and livable design. A local saying goes, “You may have the wealth of Lin Lu, but not the residence of Lin Lu.” With its unique architectural style, Lin Lu Cuo has captivated audiences both at home and abroad.

Further reading:

· Seventh Batch of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the State Level