Chunrun Villa, located at No. 54 North Road, West Lake District, was built in the mid-1920s. The property belonged to the drama theorist Song Chunfang, who served as a professor at Peking University and Tsinghua University, and his friend Zhu Rensheng, who both built a villa each. The villa in the front belonged to Zhu Rensheng, and the one in the back belonged to Song Chunfang. Thus, the name ‘Chunrun Villa’ is derived from one character each from their names.
Inside the compound of Chunrun Villa, there are two Western-style garden villas, one in the front and one in the back. The front entrance faces North Road, while the back entrance is close to Geling Road. The front gate features two carved, cast-iron doors with a decorative gatehouse, and on both sides of the gatehouse are open-style cast-iron railings.
The villa has numerous open and semi-open architectural spaces such as balconies, corridors, rooftop terraces, and stepped platforms in the courtyard. These spaces serve as activity areas for the residents, necessary places for drying and airing items, and prime spots for enjoying the view of the lake and mountains. This reflects the living philosophy of the owners and the ingenuity of the designers.
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