nycdaug Chapter 116 Drawing Architectural Plans
Chapter 116 Drawing Architectural Plans
At the Shen family, Shen Li sat peacefully in the quiet study. The sunlight, like a lively elf, passed through the exquisitely carved window lattices, dancing lightly on the quaint and wide pear wood table, and also covered the mutton-fat jade-like drawing paper in front of her with a layer of dazzling golden gauze.
Shen Li closed her eyes slightly, exhaled lightly, and gradually calmed her mind. Then she stretched out her hand, picked up a pencil, and began to draw the design of the Shen Family Ancestral Hall.
When she wrote, the lines were solemn and steady, as if telling the family's long history and profound heritage.
First, outline the foundation of the ancestral hall. It is a small but neat rectangle with strong and straight lines at the four corners, which seems to silently demonstrate the solidity and strength of the family's foundation.
Then, she painted the main wall, its thickness and height carefully considered, creating a subtle yet restrained power. Above the wall, the reserved windows are perfectly positioned—not too many, not too few. The window lattices follow the traditional circular pattern, each pattern a testament to her meticulous attention to detail, symbolizing the family's prosperity and wealth.
The window sashes are of appropriate size, which can not only bring in the right amount of light but also maintain the overall solemnity.
When painting the gate of the ancestral hall, Shen Li was fully focused.
The main door is located in the center. The double-opening doors are heavy and majestic, with copper rings inlaid on them. Although they are not huge, the Taotie patterns carved on the surface are simple yet charming, and still show the family's majesty.
A rectangular area was reserved above the door lintel. She had already decided to invite a respected local calligrapher to write the four characters "Shen's Ancestral Hall" on it to highlight the family's cultural heritage and extraordinary taste.
The roof of the ancestral hall is the most exquisite part of the entire design.
After much deliberation, Shen Li chose the style of a gabled roof. The slope and shape were carefully designed to suit the family's status without exceeding regulations.
The tiles are laid out one by one under her pen, and each one is given a delicate texture. She deliberately emphasizes the edge lines of the tiles to make them three-dimensional under the sunlight, as if quietly telling the vicissitudes of time.
The roof ridge rises high, like the backbone of a giant dragon, and is embellished only with a few simple ceramic auspicious beasts, such as Qilin and Chiwen. Although they are not gorgeous, they are like loyal guards, silently guarding the peace and tranquility of the family.
The preliminary design draft of the Shen's Ancestral Hall was completed. After taking a short break, Shen Li turned his thoughts to the planning of the Shen's School.
In her heart, this school is not just a place for teaching and imparting knowledge, but also a sacred place for family members to hone their moral character and cultivate their talents, and it is the birthplace of the family's future hopes.
She carefully designed the layout of the school into a two-courtyard style.
The first entrance combines the main door and the foyer into one, and the space is a bit cramped, only used for passage and simple reception.
The main door is a single wooden door with a simple and elegant style, without any redundant decoration. Only the four big characters "Shen's School" are engraved on the door lintel. The font is simple and heavy, as if it embodies the family's respect for knowledge and earnest expectations for future generations.
On both sides of the door, a row of low side rooms stand quietly, serving as gatehouses and storage rooms. Although not eye-catching, they are indispensable.
Entering through the entrance hall, you will find the second courtyard. In the center of the courtyard, a bright and spacious open space paved with bluestone slabs is a place where students can relax and discuss knowledge after class. Although not vast, it is full of vitality.
Around the courtyard, corridors wind and twist like ribbons.
The pillars of the corridor are of appropriate thickness, the foundation stones and capitals are decorated in a simple and exquisite manner, and the lotus pattern carved on the foundation stones is fresh and elegant, as if silently reminding students to be honest and upright in the world like the lotus, and to explore the path of knowledge unremittingly.
Inside the corridor, several classrooms are scattered around. Each classroom is spacious and bright, with large windows, allowing sunlight to pour in unimpeded, creating an excellent learning environment for students.
The windows are designed to be pushed open and closed, and the wooden frames are painted dark brown, which blends in perfectly with the overall architectural style.
Shen Li also put a lot of thought into the design of the interior of the classroom.
The podium is placed at the front of the classroom, slightly above the ground, at a moderate height, which allows the teacher to have a wide field of vision while teaching and brings him closer to the students.
On one side of the podium, there is a large desk, as if it is already filled with books and teaching aids, just waiting for the teacher to unleash his wisdom.
The desks and chairs are customized according to the age and body shape of the students. Although they are made of ordinary solid wood, they are carefully polished and smooth without thorns, ensuring that students can sit comfortably and focus on their studies.
The back hall has only one floor, which is where Mr. Yu’s books are stored and he works.
The library is located in the center of the back hall. Although it is small, it can accommodate many classics. A simple staircase connects the upper and lower levels for easy access.
On one side of the library, there are several quiet and peaceful study rooms for teachers to prepare lessons, correct homework and rest.
The study is simply and elegantly decorated, with a desk, chair, bookcase and couch. Famous calligraphy and paintings can be hung on the walls, creating a space full of cultural charm for the gentleman.
Shen Li was painting with full concentration, carefully considering every detail and meticulously crafting every line.
She knew very well that these two design drawings were of extraordinary significance to the Shen family. They were the bright banners of family cultural heritage and the solid bridge for the continuation of family spirit.
After finishing the painting, Shen Lifang gently put down the brush in his hand and rubbed his numb wrist.
She stared at the blueprint before her, her mind racing. Qingshan Village was remote and sparsely populated, and the village craftsmen were unlikely to take on the task. Finding skilled craftsmen from larger towns presented numerous challenges.
The first and foremost issue was the cost. Although her family had some savings, it only totaled 20,000 silver taels. Faced with the massive undertaking of building both the ancestral hall and the school, she was unsure whether it would be enough to support them.
After all, both projects are large in scale, the materials used are also exquisite, and labor expenses are difficult to estimate. What if there is an overspending in the middle?
But how could Shen Li be willing to compromise the quality and scale of the building due to financial concerns?
This is a century-long plan for the family, and we must be extremely cautious and find a proper and comprehensive plan to make the family dream come true and make the Shen's ancestral hall and school the family's eternal glory and pride.