Courtyards lived in by multiple families used to be a common form of residence in China, giving shape to people's conceptions of the relations between body and space, individuality and collectivity. A residential compound of high-rise buildings is still referred to by many as a yuan'er, or courtyard.

The dynamics embodied in this type of living are being examined at the Chinese Pavilion at the Biennale Architettura 2021, or the 17th International Architecture Exhibition, which runs through Nov 21 in Venice.

The opening ceremony of the China Pavilion was held at Beijing's Tianqiao Art Center on Tuesday, due to restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commissioned by China Arts and Entertainment Group, pavilion curator Zhang Li, dean of the School of Architecture at Tsinghua University, works with artists and designers to present a five-section inquiry into the rich cultures of yuan'er to address this year's title, How Will We Live Together?

Works on show explain yuan'er as a basic molecule of the urban and social fabric in China, with vivid cases ranging from mega-courtyards such as the Forbidden City to smaller ones such as the living spaces in hutong. It is an invitation to international audiences to see how creative solutions to living together can benefit architecture and communities today.