The space at Bund 5 held unique design challenges due to unaligned walls and columns, as well as different floor elevations throughout the space. It allows for private shopping as well as a museum and furniture gallery. NHDRO’s design resolves the oddities of the space by inserting the abstracted notion of a courtyard into the main space. To convey the essence of the historic structure, NHDRO converts the primary space into a canvas by architecturally defining it with glass panels, reinforced with delicate brushed nickel stainless steel mullions. This backdrop, which can be lit separately, acts as a wall in which the classic modern products are displayed. ...Collapse

Design Republic is the flagship space of the high-end home furnishings retail store in Shanghai. The store is an emporium of high modern furniture pieces and today’s avant-garde home design brands. Located on the Bund in Shanghai, the intent of the Design Republic Flagship Store was to represent both a design statement and a brand mission. The pared-down interior finishes serve to showcase its products against a raw backdrop. The glass-paneled display gallery creates an inverted courtyard space, mimicking shops along a pedestrian walkway, creating a unique experience and sense of scale. A central, elevated platform within this courtyard is the abstracted platform that represents Design Republic’s mission to create a commercial and pedagogical design platform for the community. ...Collapse