Xiangxuehai Clubhouse, Suzhou

“The description of Suzhou such as the classic garden in the south of the Yangtze River and the graceful Yangtze River delta, is not just a historical connotation but also a romantic explanation of our daily life. But design isn’t blindly adding or toying with art. Responding to project characteristics and user experience in depth are contemporary propositions that designers have to carefully consider.” Says the designer on the thought process for this project.

Referencing the layout of Suzhou courtyard, the designer develops the ideas from the structure of conventional Chinese courtyard - using pine tree miniascape, rockery piling and waterscape bar to constitute interior miniature landscape, and using interspersed partition walls to achieve a visual effect of scene-borrowing. With contemporary sofas and vintage chairs, and with the lights penetrating the partition holes and meeting the special designs in the ceiling, the whole space is immersed in a simple and elegant atmosphere.

The central beam of the ceiling was inspired by the flying eaves and green tiles in ancient Chinese architecture. In the background of red walls, the interconnecting acrylic green tiles present an abstract landscape painting which brings out the best in the screen paintings in the lounge and resonates with various ornaments, producing additional detail elegance.

Instead of just following convention, the participant, relying on vibrant flexibility, sets to explore original oriental elegance. When developing the ideas of the private rooms in this project, the designer starts with natural landscape and the Yangtze River culture on the theme of Urban Forest.
By such kind of visual expression, the designer works to create an ideal scenario of “bathing in nature while dwelling in the city”.

Natural elements, cultural sublimation, and spiritual creations work together in the space. The designer expresses the “Taoist nature, harmony with man” philosophy through condensed scenic narration and Oriental aesthetic value. Using modern methods to assimilate Chinese courtyard visits in the interior, the designer satisfies various banquet settings, creating exquisite and elegant Oriental aesthetic atmosphere.