Sited amongst many of its kind built 100 years ago, this project introduces a new subject to the neighborhood – an “Eastern New Modern” aroma brand. Our design aims to resolve its programmatic discord, structural challenges, and perceived conflict. 」
# In between past and present
The Spanish Colonial Revival Style, a movement popularized in the late 20th century in the US, draws elements from the earlier Mission Revival style. Spanish Colonial Revival architecture is characterized by details such as stucco wall finishes, terracotta shingles, semi-circular arcades, small balconies, and courtyards. Through a “collage” of iconic spatial elements, these architectures create a strong sense of cultural specificity.
It is fundamental for a contemporary designer’s practice to develop a comprehensive understanding of the historical context and design progression of the site. A humble attitude towards reminiscences of an architecture enables the designer to deconstruct the underlying “deep structure”. Reconciling the architectural reminiscence with its new programmatic use becomes the focus of this project.
# In between new and old
With careful observation the viewer may discover many “glitches” in the details throughout the store. Rather than construction flaws, these are strategically designed to highlight the clashing of the new and old.
The focus of our design is to facilitate new functions while preserving and restoring the original structure. These Spanish villas of Shanghai typically adopt elevated ground floor to prevent moisture damage, resulting in relatively low ceilings. Upon inspection of the site, we discovered a structural hazard — the foundation bricks and ground beams under the elevated floor had become brittle. We demolished the elevated floor which allowed for strengthening the foundation as well as gaining head space.
The lowered ground floor required a new step to be added at the staircase. Consequently, the decorative rope motif around the arched doorway and fireplace also discontinued at the lower end. Instead of replicating the material and pattern of the missing segments to camouflage, we responded to the discord by using travertine to accentuate the new addition, revealing the “glitch”. All of the added components originate from the same travertine block to ensure consistency in materiality and to preserve architectural integrity.
The dialogue between the new and old manifests itself throughout the site. The auxiliary beam of the upper level had severe termite damage; we reinforced it with steel beams, thus rendering the original wooden columns functionless. Yet this column was retained by design, preserving the authentic structural aesthetics of the villa.
These “glitches” become a motif by intention. It serves as a visual exercise to entertain visitors, nudging them to discover and interpret the behind story.
# In between frame and view
No threshold is aligned, no door frame repeated. The unique “Eastern New Modern” brand image of To Summer is achieved by framing particular views in the interior space.
The dissonance between the site’s Western style and the brand’s Eastern aesthetic is yet another design challenge. We proposed to resolve it by connecting the “holes.” Typical Spanish Colonial Revival architecture emphasizes spatial boundary to enhance programmatic use, which is achieved through plenty of doorways and apertures.
We treat the “holes” as “frames,” opportunities to create views. Adjusting the proportion of doors and windows, turning them into different forms of thresholds, the design reevaluates the existing spatial sequence. Mirrors are introduced as new thresholds. By “puncturing” the walls with various sized mirrors, we created portals that connect the “holes” through framing and reflecting, collaging the product and scenic views, collapsing the virtual and the real.
Combining the “frame” and “scene,” the concept of “Eastern Courtyard” is implied without being explicit. The audience can simply enjoy the subtlety of it by slowing down.
# In between interior and exterior
By opening the doors and windows, the interior and exterior jointly create a To Summer Courtyard. Our design intends to foster a garden-like spatial experience by connecting the indoor and outdoor. Rather than “exteriorizing” the indoor space, we thread the space with flexible circulation, allowing the visitor to explore and curate their own unique picturesque experience.
Upon entering the villa from the buzzing streets, visitors are greeted with a ceremonial cleansing station. The gesture of hand washing is a calling to slow down and mentally prepare for arriving at the venue. The original bathroom in between the villas is removed and replaced by a magnolia tree. In the backyard garden, the original plants were kept, with new landscape design surrounding the existing four trees. To contrast with what was there before, the newly added plants are selected for their undersized silhouette.
Standard commercial functions are programmed on the ground floor, allowing the second floor to transform as Summer’s living room, tea room and study. The second floor embraces an open floor plan where visitors are encouraged to appreciate minute seasonal changes reflected within the space, such as adoring the winter sun and ever-changing shadows cast by surrounding trees. Interior lighting is dimmed. We played mostly with natural light and a restrained use of band light to render a homie atmosphere.
The traditional Chinese garden landscape design is hinted in our material choice – raw stone is used on door beams, thresholds, countertops and cabinets to echo the backyard. The interior and exterior are once again blurred.
# In between design and strategy
The most challenging aspect in this project is to reconcile the new program and the villa’s rich historical background. We aim to design a space where visitors are guided to experience the stories that have happened, are happening and are about to happen here. A successful design should not be a finished product. It is an honest dialogue between the user and the space. The constant interaction of “people” and “objects” reconstructs the space and generates new meaning.
