ONE-CU shapes sumptuous interiors for cheongsam workshop in jiangmen, china

in jiangmen, china, ONE-CU interior design lab has transformed a three-story villa into a cheongsam workshop and private residence. also known as a qipao, cheongsam is a type of form-fitting dress that became popular in china during the 1920s and 30s. the garment symbolizes a blend of eastern and western culture, modernity and tradition. to shape this atelier and dwelling, ONE-CU extracted the ambiguous character of the cheongsam, and applied it to the spatial design. boundaries between functional areas are blurred, allowing the selection of sumptuous materials to do the talking.  

images by threeimages

the client’s brief called for a new space that integrates functions of exhibition, socializing and working. ONE-CU responded by demolishing the original walls of the villa, reorganizing the layout, conceiving a smooth circulation, and creating multi-level relationships within the space. the final layout aims to create a ‘functional ambiguity’, where the three main functions interpenetrate each other. and throughout all three levels, furniture pieces are carefully selected and cheongsams are hung like precious artworks.

the entrance features a twisting circulation. before entering, people pass through an open courtyard and translucent foldable glass doors. the black grid pattern of the frosted glass doors are reminiscent of screens made from paper and wood in traditional japanese-style rooms (washitsu). as night falls, the glass refracts and diffuses soft light, producing a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

the second floor is home to the workshop space, which is endowed with a sense of privacy, comfort and luxury. the design team collected items from china’s republic era, repaired them and carefully incorporated them into the space. the old objects retain primitive textures, carry past marks, and produce a sense of time ambiguity. fabric is the key element that defines the quality of cheongsam. with this in mind, the designers utilized various types of fabric such as silk and velvet to clad the space. 

the third floor is the client’s private space. it features a cozy living atmosphere and accommodates a connective bedroom and study. the design team made great efforts to refine the details and enrich spatial narratives. for example, an opened book and randomly placed high heels tell a story to anyone passing through.

project info:

project name: poly · city gather cheongsam customization workshop
client: foshan poly
location: jiangmen, china
area: 3014 ft2 (280 m2)
completion: august 2020
design firm: ONE-CU interior design lab
design director: huang jianfeng
interior finishing design team: feng liu, zhai mengfei, lin qing, wang wulin
interior decoration design team: cai shaona, hua su
main materials: sintered stone panel, wooden veneer, terracotta brick, glass, paint, wooden flooring
photography: threeimages
video: DD / xiang shucheng

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom