Over a century ago, the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts inherited the essence of Chinese aesthetics and revolutionized art education, thus inaugurating the New Art Movement. A century later, upholding the inherent spirit of inheritance and innovation rooted in this land, we dare to be pioneers of the era. With brushes as our ruler and hearts as our compass, we reshape the urban texture and continue to write a new chapter of Shanghai-style elegance.   

A century-old Shunchang Road is a condensed history of Shanghai. The site is like a vessel, carrying the memories of generations. Having weathered the vicissitudes of turbulent times amid fading glories and lingering daily charm, it inherits new experiences and inspirations from the era of cultural integration between China and the West.

Listen to the Dialogue Between Old and New Buildings, Read the Century-Old Stories Embedded in the Brick Walls

01.Main Entrance Plaza

Part I.Rebirth of Shikumen: An Artistic Walk Through a Century

When the wind from the Huangpu River brushes the skyline of the Bund, a silent dialogue across time and space is unfolding in the nearby Shikumen lanes. This is not a simple reproduction, but a heartfelt creation rooted in the historical texture.

At the main square of the space, we create a visual focal point with a signature landscape plant. It is more than just a tree; it is a symbol of the Shanghai-style spirit — deeply rooted in the fertile soil while stretching freely toward the sky, embodying the breadth of mind that “embraces all rivers and accommodates diverse elements”.

02.Tide Plaza

Part II.From the river currents to the streets and lanes, we paint an Impressionist canvas for this site.

The artistic soul of the former Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts awakens here. We extract the ink-wash painting-style strokes from artworks and interpret them into the streamlined patterns of pavement and the fusion of colors.

ook closely, and the cultural reliefs on the ground are like scattered pages of history, recording the memories of this place.

03.Lanes and Alleys

Part III.The life in lanes and alleys awakens the sleeping memories of daily trivialities and warmth.

The old lanes were once the most vivid social salons of Shanghai. Neighbors’ casual chats, children’s playful laughter, and the aroma of home-cooked meals wafting from windows of every household together formed the warmest backdrop of Shanghai-style culture.

Today, we adopt a contemporary design approach to recreate this ceremonial alleyway. Our goal is not restoration, but reawakening — to reawaken that unique and harmonious sentiment of nongtang life.

By extending the cultural symbols of the entire community and adding textured decorative components, we enrich the wall surfaces, making every walk through here a miniature cultural exhibition.

Quality reveals itself in the details. The paving joints and material transitions have all been carefully refined to ensure refined detailing and superior quality.

Life scenes and art scenes are seamlessly intertwined here, restoring the unique living aesthetics of Shikumen where daily trivialities coexist with elegance.

Amidst the lanes and alleys of Shikumen, a unique sense of balance quietly takes shape. Rigorous lines are softened by trailing vines, silent bricks and stones are warmed by the greenish hue of moss, and every walk through here becomes a miniature journey through the changing seasons.

Amidst the warm backdrop of red bricks and green trees in Shikumen, geometric-textured logo pavements are interspersed as accents. Like symbols scattered deep in time, they engage in a silent dialogue with the timeless texture of the buildings themselves through their rational lines.              

This is a perfect harmony between order and nature — the precision of geometric patterns does not separate the softness of greenery, but instead becomes a poetic frame that holds it all. As you walk upon it, your touch meets the rigor of modern design, while your eyes are greeted by swaying tree shadows and weathered brick walls.

What we have achieved here is more than just a design; it is a delicate balance between Shanghai-style aesthetics and natural poetry. It allows the profound weight of history to stand side by side with the simplicity of the contemporary era, making every moment of pausing and wandering an immersive experience of traveling through time and space.

xercise meticulous control over every single detail        

Exercise strict control over various aspects including design effects, material selection, and construction technology        

Control the overall presentation effect of the project