Nestled among Shanghai’s plane trees, this project is a renovated French Renaissance-style villa transformed into an interior design studio. We honor history, preserve authentic textures, and embrace minimalism, blending the elegance of a century-old building with modern studio functionality. Free from forced nostalgia or over-decoration, time, light, and architectural lines define the space’s unique charm. With a muted, low-saturation palette, wood, stone, lighting, and furnishings harmonize perfectly—balancing old-world atmosphere with contemporary sophistication, while each area serves a distinct function and mood.
The entrance area acts as a transition between the historic villa and the modern interior, with an overall atmosphere that is quiet, restrained, and ritualistic. The original wooden flooring is preserved, retaining the simple, vintage character of the old building. The walls are finished in soft, low-saturation light tones, with sections of the original historic texture deliberately exposed; without excessive ornamentation, old and new are elegantly integrated. The ceiling retains its original plaster mouldings, creating a calm and composed studio ambience from the moment one steps inside. Free from exaggerated forms or cluttered color blocks, the design follows the principle of "less is more". Upon entering, one naturally slows down and enters a state of focused, relaxed creativity.
The space is dominated by wood tones and light grey. The wooden cabinetry and worktables exude warmth and calmness, softening the cold rigidity of a typical office while enhancing the overall texture. The cabinets feature simple slab doors with clean, sharp lines and no superfluous carvings, creating a modern dialogue with the vintage structure of the old villa—both classic and contemporary. The work surfaces are spacious and level, accommodating drawing, material selection, computer work, and other functions. The circulation is smooth, allowing the team to communicate and discuss ideas with ease, inspiring creativity to flow freely throughout the open space.
