This interior project allowed NHDRO to explore the notion of layering as a means of separation and integration. By inserting a wooden screen as a spatial device, a bridge was created to act as both a shield and a link between public and private spaces, tying the zones into one cohesive domestic structure. ...Collapse

The spatial screen/bridge separates the master bedroom from the rest of the house to create a private oasis, isolating it from daily duties and the hectic life of Shanghai. In the master private study, there are three types of enclosing components -- screen doors, wooden doors with glass infill and silk curtains. These sliding elements allow the owner flexibility to create different types of spatial experiences based on needs, requirements, or mood. The insertion of the architectural screen/bridge creates an architectural element that connects the different components of the house into one cohesive unit. Made with South African walnut, the wood structure gives warmth and a sense of scale to the large house. ...Collapse

NHDRO used this opportunity to experiment with different materiality and tectonics to give the house a domestic scale and sensibility. For instance, the richness of quartzite stone is displayed by exposing its natural veins. Exquisite bronze, wood, leather, and stone details can be found throughout the house. Naturally rich materials were chosen for the finishes on screens, fireplaces, dividers, walls, and doors as a way to further the concept of layering beyond spatiality and into materiality. ...Collapse