To the minds of most, Guangzhou is not a city renowned for its high-class residences. It is somewhat overshadowed by the sheer style and scale of Hong Kong, its southerly neighbour, while the reputations of Shanghai and Beijing cast equally long shadows over its somewhat humble homesteads. However, there are one or two true gems to be found in Guangzhou – among them the Dragon Lake House. With a view that looks across the grounds of the Dragon Lake Golf Club – the glorious, international-standard green that the home shares its name with – this 15,000sq. ft residence is ideally appointed, with its setting the perfect perch for its eclectic mix of East and West design conceits. Officially part of the city’s Haudu district, it is close enough to the commercial centre to take the sting out of commuting, but far away enough to provide an oasis of calm for its residents.

Its luxury interiors come courtesy of Clifton Leung, an award-winning Hong Kong-based designer. Explaining his approach, Leung said: “I like to say a house is very similar to a gallery. It’s not just about white walls – you have to bring your own favourite works of art, your cherished belongings, your much-loved sofa, your music… You have to transform it through your own very individual presence. Above all, a home should have its own character, and that character should reflect the unique personalities and interests of its residents.”

Thoughtfully-crafted comfort aside, perhaps the most striking aspect of the Dragon Lake House is the very modern take it offers on a truly classic element of Chinese architecture – the siheyuan. Essentially a square courtyard, surrounded by residential structures, it was a common feature of many well-to-do Beijing homes, with the very first examples said to date back to the time of the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BC).

As with any classic siheyuan, the Dragon Lake House is built around an inner courtyard, ringed with heritage-style, yet modern spaces. The spaciousness and the apt use of natural light that characterise the courtyard are motifs that are revisited throughout the home. The living room, for instance, spans two storeys vertically, bestowing upon it a high ceiling and an accompanying sense of freedom. This sensation has only been further enhanced by using crystal-clear glass windows, optimising the flow of natural light into the home.

Another aspect of the Dragon Lake House to be cherished is its embrace of all things aquatic. As well as the aforementioned water garden, there is a recessed swimming area and a glittering water curtain. In keeping with the preferences of the current owners, the home’s water features are stocked with a beguiling array of fish, with some chosen solely on aesthetic grounds and others chosen to one day adorn the residence’s bespoke fine dining table.

All in all, it’s a sumptuous residence, one that clearly stands apart from the many houses to be found throughout Guangzhou, homes where, all too frequently, pragmatic insensitivity and utility have triumphed over any truly aesthetic impulse. No such suggestions, however, could be made of the Dragon Lake House, a setting where the land, the layout and the luxury accoutrements are as one, rendering it almost as rare as the mystical creature it so aptly name-checks.

Text: Robert Blain; Photos: Clifton Leung Design Workshop