This apartment, located in the core of Shanghai’s historic Bund district, was designed for a family of four. The project addresses two common challenges in contemporary urban housing: a lack of efficient storage and limited interaction between family members, due to the original layout’s fragmented use of shared space.
Instead of resorting to expressive architectural forms or complex spatial gestures, the design proposes a clear, restrained, and intelligent intervention: a shared storage room placed at the center of the home, serving as both a practical solution and a new spatial anchor.
The Central “Dark Room” Insertion
At the core of the plan sits a black, monolithic volume—a centralized space for everyday storage including coats, seasonal items, and miscellaneous household goods. This “Dark Room” is clad in black lacquered panels, standing in deliberate contrast to the otherwise light and warm tones of the residence. Its presence is calm but assertive—functional, yet spatially symbolic.
All other domestic functions—living room, dining area, three bedrooms, bathrooms—are arranged around this dark central mass. This configuration naturally encourages a circular circulation flow, where the family moves fluidly around the core throughout the day. In doing so, it fosters spontaneous interactions and shared moments, bringing a new rhythm to everyday life.
Measured Materials and Domestic Rhythm
The material palette reflects a sense of warmth and restraint appropriate for a private home. Wood veneer is used in bedrooms to create a calm, intimate environment; textured wall paint offers a soft tactile surface and subtle light interplay; black marble is introduced in functional zones such as the kitchen and bathrooms, adding contrast and a sense of grounded stability.
This approach to material selection avoids unnecessary decoration or stylistic excess. Each material is chosen for its functional suitability and long-term durability, aiming to create a home that is not only aesthetically cohesive but also comfortable and practical for everyday use.
A Reasoned, Not Overbearing Architectural Presence
The project intentionally avoids excessive aesthetic imposition by the architect. There is no desire to use bold visual signatures to define the inhabitants’ lives, nor to introduce overly complex construction methods that challenge the contractor's familiarity or the user’s comfort.
Instead, the design adopts a stance of measured architectural intervention—one that proposes a clear spatial concept (the central storage core), a unified and legible material language, and a spatial rhythm that resonates with the needs of a real family.
In the midst of Shanghai’s dense urban fabric, this residence presents a calm, grounded, and quietly intelligent living environment. Through precise control of structure, circulation, and materials, the project solves the most pressing spatial issues with minimal intervention—achieving a balanced harmony of function, intimacy, and design sensibility.
Information
Location: Shanghai, China
Project Type: Residential
Area: 180 m²
Interior（Architectural） Design: Ao-ArchLab
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