Architecture  ·  Top Design Stories

An Avant Garde Transformation

November 23, 2021

Ask any new parents and they would attest to the tidal wave of emotions that swept over them
as they first laid their eyes on their child. Some parents even go as far as saying that they could
feel an overwhelming devotion and an instant seismic shift in their priorities – something that Cui Shu relates to as he credits the day he held his two sons – as soon as they were born – a lifechanging experience that gave him a new understanding and perspective on life.

Celebrating a decade of spearheading CUN Design, Cui Shu is a man with many personas and feels that every one of them is instrumental in making him a multi-faceted architect. As a connoisseur of extreme sports, Cui Shu loves skiing, skydiving, and auto-racing amongst others but when the situation calls for it, Cui Shu also fits the portfolio of a builder of fine and creative living. Someone who has fun in interior design, fashion, as well as furniture designing

“At CUN Design, special attention is paid to the concept of time in the space, where inches take centerstage and our designs are based on one inch at a time. We strive to create quality design. Focusing on commercial design, office design, and advanced space customization, CUN Design has about 40 personnel where all of them have adopted my design mantra which is ‘be no slave to empirical design, be no chaser to aesthetics trend, be the leader. Never stop finding our own way!,” said Cui Shu.

Perhaps following this mantra is the reason that the recently completed photography studio, belonging to the famous photographer, Liu Zongyuan appears avant-garde. For this particular project fondly nicknamed the UTTER SPACE, Cui Shu and his design team transformed the old building to appear futuristic. The building built approximately in the 1960s was restored with the original texture of the old building and adjusted into a composite space that integrates work, art museums, and activities. This makes the space more thorough and purer hence its name UTTER SPACE.

UTTER SPACE remains a project that is iconic to Cui Shu and his firm because it challenged him while providing him with a learning curve. The biggest inspiration from this adventure, according to Cui Shu is that design should have choice and restraint in addition to expression. The mark of a skilled architect is the ability to practice restraint and be able to control. Sometimes, controlling oneself results in good design, added Cui Shu.

By restoring, designing and decorating the walls of the old building, the original aesthetic feeling of the authentic features can be reproduced, and traces of the history and its original cement wall can be preserved. Through the transformation of the building from the inside to the outside, fully considering the relationship between the spatial function, structure and the material, the final design forms an environment with unique temperament.

For more information please visit www.cunchina.cn

Ar Cui Shu  

As the founder of CUN Design, Cui Shu, carries the traits of a designer from the post-80s where he is rebellious, meticulous, rigorous while also being highly individualistic. Closely connecting himself to the most fashionable elements of the moment, Cui Shu prefers to be the trendsetter who sets new trails blazing than to be a slave of traditional design. The multi-award architect represents the voices of young Asian designers on a global platform.

AFTER HOURS

What’s your poison?
Coffee is my favorite drinks especially Fleur white.
Favourite hangout spot?
It used to be IZU and ITO in Japan if I wanted to relax myself. But now I prefer Dunhuang than Japan.
The place to go for authentic local cuisine?
My favorite local cuisine is roast duck, Dadong roast duck, if I am in Beijing. 

THE JETSETTER

Most memorable stay?
A memorable place is the Han Bi Lou in The Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan, which is a work of art of integrating the hotel with nature.
Biggest splurge?
I brought a painting by a Chinese artist who name is Ma Jun. I appreciate his contemporary ink painting so, I bought one.
Your holiday fashion?
On holidays, I usually wear casual and
nature clothes and I will pay more
attention to the comfort of fabrics.