Wechat
}
09.05.2019

Shanghai Superflux

Experimental and creative interior designs in Shanghai

share:

Although Xi’s criticisms have since shaped official government guidelines regarding the construction of public buildings, broader architectural practice in China has not yet been fully impeded. Here, below, we review a selection of interior projects completed over the past few years in Shanghai to illustrate how local architects continue to experiment and push boundaries. The three highlighted projects illustrate just some of the innovative approaches employed by architects working in China. Their methods – which range from experimenting with tools, processes and material pairings, to different ways of organising space, – not only offer fresh ways of encountering and moving through buildings, but also add to the multi-dimensional experiences that have come to define urban Shanghai. While Xi’s words may have signalled the end for “weird” architecture in China, it seems that there is still actually much to play for.

Sissi’s Wonderland Library
by Muxin Design Studio

Devised by Muxin Design Studio, Sissi’s Wonderland Library for children poetically encapsulates the idea of learning through play. Designed to resemble a giant toy, the space encourages exploration through a series of curved pathways and arched doorways that lead to semi-private alcoves. Lined in wood, these areas feature low-level benches where children can sit and read, either on their own or with their parents, as well as small arched windows that frame leafy plants, much like traditional Chinese ink paintings.

The library’s main space is a central, circular-shaped reading and play zone intended for more active socialising. Enclosed by a wooden bookshelf that extends inwards to form a bench, this area is finished with a green, grass-like rug, and complemented by a black ceiling that simulates the night sky when the lights are on. The light-toned materials otherwise used throughout contribute to an overall welcoming atmosphere, inviting children – in the words of the architects – to “freely explore, discover and create their own lively experience”, sparking creativity and imagination.

The Hub Performance and Exhibition Centre by architects Neri & Hu

Inspired by forest tree canopies and rock formations, The Hub Performance and Exhibition Centre by architects Neri & Hu aims to evoke a calming, nature-like environment. The main atrium of this mixed-use complex demonstrates an eye-catching ceiling constructed of walnut- and oak-covered aluminium sticks arranged to look like “a floating canopy”. The feature sharply stands out from the rest of the centre’s cavern-like interior, clad in striped grey sandstone to mirror the striated surfaces of carved rock.

Contrasting materials similarly characterise other spaces in the complex. A 750-seat auditorium, for instance, exemplifies a mix of hard stone walls and softer wooden slat screens – the latter referencing ancient Chinese bamboo slips, once used to record stories. Elsewhere, bars take the form of wooden houses “carved into the rock”, and metal trellises offer privacy in open and spacious VIP rooms. Even the bathrooms, which feature golden toilet cubicles that adjoin green-tiled washrooms, have received the special Neri & Hu treatment.

The Jade Museum by Archi-Union

For Shanghai’s Jade Museum, architecture firm Archi-Union used digital design tools to reconfigure the gallery’s interior layout, translating “the folding of circulation flows into [the] folding of space itself”. The result is a twisted concrete staircase that forms a spiralling route through three split-level floors, providing access to exhibition areas, bars, a tearoom, and even a meditation room. While digital fabrication often plays a central role in Archi-Union’s practice, these techniques were key to reducing both waste and costs for this project without compromising the integrity of its unique geometric design.


Words by Zara Arshad for Molteni&C Magazine 13.
The Hub Performance Center photos: Dirk Weiblen

To stay up to date on products, news and events of the Molteni Group

    DISCOVER OUR ONLINE STORE

    Select your country

    1/4

    Schedule your appointment at the nearest store

    Please fill out the following form, and we will put you in touch with our specialized team of interior designers. They will promptly contact you to schedule a consultancy appointment to help in developing your project, either through a personal visit to your nearest store or via an online meeting.

    Please search and select a store near you
    No location found, please insert a valid location an try again

    2/4

    1/3

    Find the right time

    3/4

    2/3

    about your space

    4/4

    3/3

    about yourself

    • Privacy
    • Pursuant to privacy regulations, the personal data will be processed by Molteni&C S.p.A. in compliance with our Personal data protection policy. The user may, at any time, exercise its rights and revoke any consent given, also by sending an e-mail to privacy@molteni.it
    • I have read the information on the processing of personal data provided by Molteni&C. - S.p.A.
      • to the processing of my personal data to receive marketing communications (by automated and traditional means) from MOLTENI & C. - S.p.A., as described in point B) of the Privacy Policy
      • to the processing of my personal data for profiling purposes and to analyse consumption habits and choices, as described in point C) of the Privacy Policy
      • to my personal data being transferred to Molteni Group companies as indicated in point D) of the Privacy Policy

    Click here to change image
    The text you entered does not match the image. Please try again.

    Thank you for your appointment request.

    You will receive a confirmation email in your inbox with all the details you need. In the meantime, you can keep browsing through Molteni’s collections and products.
    Sorry, something went wrong. Please, try again later.