ARBOUR

Architecture provides people with direct experiences, poetically connecting them with multiple dimensions of time and space: by giving people both a literal and symbolic foothold within built environments, it enables new dialogues across different eras and regions. For the New Shanghai Residence Project, MU Design decided to integrate a classical Eastern sensibility which recalls the past, with soft furnishings and details inspired by the comfort of contemporary Italian interiors. Upon entering the apartment, guests will discover a minimalist Italian-style living room, with a distinct, richly textured black and white color palette. Natural moiré marble is paired with delicate, recessed light fixtures which sparkle overhead. Classic, comfortable Poliform dining room chairs finished in cowhide are paired with a strikingly modern dining table, whose surface of dark stone is supported by a monolithic structure of solid wood. The clean design of the Minotti leather sofa in the center of the living room continues the pleasingly natural, contemporary atmosphere of the interior. Additionally, the generous, curved form of the armchair has a sculptural feel reminiscent of the 1970s. Here, residents can enjoy easy and comfortable times with their family, with multiple views over the city and down to the busy streets below. The entire collection of imported desks and bookshelves in the apartment share exquisite craftsmanship and a similar slimness in shape. The main desk is delicately inlaid with solid wood and leather, its subtle curves softening the strong, clean lines of the metal structure. The bookshelf has a strong architectural aesthetic and can be custom mounted with hinged doors, drawers, shelves, and storage cabinets. Soft, stylish chairs and circular rugs complete the stylish effect, providing a comfortable yet refined setting for study or work. This space in Shunchang Jiuli reconfigures time in connecting a century-old lifestyle to contemporary aesthetics, imaginatively reinterpreting design details of daily life that combine both Chinese and Western elements. Bold artistry and elegant refinement are creatively combined over the apartment’s 200 square meters, where life is taken into the future.