EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

TEXT MONISHA SIVANESAN
IMAGES COURTESY OF ZHUHAI

SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS OF SPLENDOUR, SUPERORGANISM ARCHITECTS’ LATEST VENTURE FEARLESSLY ENSCONCES A HARMONIOUS MEDLEY OF CONTRASTING TRENDS, SPACES, ERAS AND CULTURES WITHIN ONE SUBLIME TWO-STOREY SHANGHAI VILLA.

A landmark in the heart of downtown Shanghai, Lake Ville V is not just an elite residence but a symbol of the city’s cultural heritage that has ingrained the unique style, artistic wavelengths and joie de vivre energy of the vibrant city within its DNA. It makes the perfect location for a Chinese cinema power couple to call home, more like a secondary home designated for socialising and cultivating creativity. After two and a half years, the identities of its owners and address fully materialise in ‘A Home for Producers,’ thanks to Chief Designer Chih Da Lin of Superorganism Architects under the ‘Let’s Play’ design theme featuring trendy yet timeless, East meets West motifs which coalescence in a harmonious dialogue with time and space.

Functionality, especially movement of space, is aligned with the clients’ character and lifestyle. Conventional concepts of ‘home’ were abandoned to transform the layout from a traditional single-family flat into a revolutionary villa featuring a bright and airy space on the ground level, with an independent and private space on the second floor, delivering diverse choices for daily living. Refined furniture and furnishings with fuss-free silhouettes – from brands like Cassina, Baxter and Boffi – were chosen. Inspired by Shanghai’s unique romantic culture, linear details of Xintiandi’s Shikumen – stone gate building – were turned into a design language that runs through the whole set of hardscaping design. Subtle curvature elements also became a recurring signature to soften the angularity of the light neutralhued home.

An arched Shikumen entrance is the first to greet, beckoning a sense of relaxation with a bench in its spacious compound. Continuing the luxe feel is the open concept living room, connected to the dining room, westernstyle kitchen and the centre island. Three sets of custom-made designer sofas help bridge the gap of an empty aisle, while breaking the mindset of traditional sofa layouts. In a contemporary sense, the dining room is no longer needed as the focal point, and meal preparation can be hidden in the kitchen. This allows for more living possibilities within the dining area and provides potential for both private comfort and social fun.

The first floor’s curved floor to ceiling windows look out into the courtyard, offering a panoramic view of the city; it also creates a smooth spatial dynamic, integrating indoor and outdoor activity seamlessly. The common area is linked to the generously sized outdoor garden courtyard with two custom conjoined dining tables, accommodating various forms of social gatherings. Resembling a tunnel, the corridor utilises a clever layering method to keep things intriguing, while lighting drives the overall atmosphere.

The floor plan of the social lounge is inspired by the celestial kingdom. When one stands at the entrance of the staircase, the entire space resembles a dial composed of minute and second hands. An astronomical theme is reflected not only in the layout of large modules, but also in each ornament on the coffee table. With a complete wrap-around arrangement, dialogue and communication arise naturally in a space of unconstricted comfort.

Granting absolute privacy, the study consists of a freestanding bookcase on the side of the corridor, a curved study room and a bathroom. On the other hand, the recreation room embodies the essence of a “man cave” with one section highlighting a large poker table while the other encompasses the rest of the room, which includes a curved sofa with a portable wine cabinet, display shelf of collectibles, lounge area for cigartasting, tall bookcase and a low cabinet.