The Twin villa is located 60 miles outside Beijing, in the Pinggu District of China, in a new residential and leisure development abutting an artificial lake. The farming community has been enhanced by the addition of a village center and farmworker housing. Market-rate housing has been introduced with a mix for seniors, moderate-income duplexes, and villas. Existing hospitality services are expanding, and public access to the lake is increasing. Numerous leisure activities are available, including boating and golf. The topography of the island site is fairly steep. The level of the lake varies depending on rainfall during the rainy season, rendering a portion of the lot, adjacent to the water, unbuildable. A pair of monolithic columns contributes to the Twin villa’s dynamic form. Custom-faceted concrete shell structures are nestled into the sloping hillside, cantilevering over the downslope, reaching out toward the lake. By embedding the semi-subterranean building into the earth, the villa’s impact on the landscape is reduced. The siting of the residence and its form and massing optimize views, while simultaneously maintaining privacy from the street and neighbors.