Jin Lei, founder of architectural firm REDe, was honoured Nov 1 with the 2019 Chinese New Generation Designer Award for a farmhouse renovation project.

Jin spent only 45 days and 150,000 Yuan ($21,512), transforming 150 yards of space in old houses in Changge village, Beijing's Daxing area, into guesthouses.

He solved many problems in the old houses, including inadequate lighting, drainage and water storage. He used storage space to thicken the walls and enhance insulation.

Also, he built a small mountain garden and created a rural resort service platform, Village Seclusion.