Deji Plaza Phase I, 4F Washroom | Li Xiang

“A courtyard room enclosed by walls sets the scene. The design interventions bring emotions and energy to flow within the space, making the environment language impactful.

Therefore, I always believe that space should not be a punctuation mark devoid of emotions.

This project is a 'comma' that I have written in space, and I hope it serves as a brief pause for the spirit or a momentary escape from reality.

It is also the first work in the entire washroom renovation series to incorporate dynamic art installations. These installations serve as totems of dream space that blur boundaries, distinguishing functional attributes of the place while deepening the surreal dream-like reality.

Time is embodied in three images - folding fans, pointers, and falling leaves. Every fifteen minutes, rotate a quarter turn, as time flows slowly here at an imperceptible pace.

I have attempted to reshape the perception of time, integrating it in a gentle and restrained manner into the overall concept, and by this renovation project as an emotional commas in commercial space, I aspire to develop a modest instinctive resistance to boredom and noise.”

  ——Li Xiang

Delving into the poetic rivers of the East, picking up the time philosophy originating from the Garden Zen, the designer extracts images from Chinese aesthetic elements, detaching the qualities of coolness, elegance, and dignity, as well as the sense of ritual, from traditional art. Cultural elements are abstractly transcribed in the space through artistic design language, depicting scenes that are grand yet delicate.

The folding fans at the entrance twirl with antique charm, gently catching the eye of visitors, leading them into the exploration of space towards the washroom on the 4F of Deji Plaza Phase I. A lone boat leaf floating above the ink, seemingly still, quietly guides newcomers into this elegant spot in the corridor. The simple lines and classical rosewood texture embody a restrained and cultured literati temperament. Pausing the hurried steps, one can follow the slowly unfolding spatial narrative, sitting quietly, daydreaming, and wandering in thought.

Flowing with the water, pointing to the indifferent painting inside the doorway of the experiential hall, depicting the poetry of pines. Here lies a marvelous method of turning the abstract into reality, where stepping into the painting means entering the garden. Taking a leisurely walk into the courtyard, a pool of flowing sand supports the lush pines. The circular holes in the ceiling open up the space, connecting the inside with the outside. The mirror reflects like water ripples, portraying the scenery in the courtyard. In this place, there is an elegant and poetic ambience.

The essence of Zen does not confine itself to a fixed location. The designer hopes to create a place for wandering thoughts, where in the passage of time, the meditation of self-discovery arises. The pointers in the experiential hall stir ripples of time, slowly rotating, losing the fixed judgment of time, as if entering a realm beyond dust, sailing with the wooden boat, heading towards the next unknown.

Moving into the rest hall, from the natural outdoor scenery to the indoor environment, a transformation begins for inner cultivation. The neatly arranged chaise longue exudes sophistication. The symmetrical layout naturally generates a sense of ritual, and the contrast between the redwood color and the soft seating touch, from the visually solemn ritual to the physically comfortable softness, immersing in a tranquil atmosphere like sipping tea. The hanging paper umbrella chandelier in mid-air echoes the chaise longue, seamlessly integrating into the ordinary in an unexpected yet marvelous way.

Penetrating into every detail, creating a more immersive ambience.

Bamboo shadows and folding screens shape a quaint atmosphere, with bamboo shadows swaying through the screens, adding a sense of elegance to the quiet space, as if behind the screen is a bamboo forest in the countryside. Inside the bathroom, lattice and wooden doors separate intimate spaces, providing users with a sense of security.

The modern minimalist style sink conceals a mystery, while the incense burner placed in the niche of the dark red wall adds a hint of fragrance.

The designer sketches with dynamic installations, capturing the beauty of time frozen on the facade. By rendering different symbols, they explore the multiple meanings of time beyond its tangible existence. Folding fans, pointers, falling leaves - whispered murmurs of time passing slowly. With each breath, conveying a tranquil and healing spiritual energy through interactive perception. In the flowing time, a slow-paced narrative, poetic depictions penned down, gently narrating the beauty of Eastern aesthetics, naturally forming a serene garden of Zen charm.

Everything will ultimately change in the flow of time, every step forward is a grounding of the self.

“The spatial epidermis is the three-dimensional folding of a moist picture scroll, with scattered flowing light unfolding, a hazy poetic atmosphere running through from beginning to end, a deliberately blurred spatial composition by the designer. There is no water around, yet water is seen everywhere, making you feel like you are indoors while also wandering in outdoor gardens.

It needs you to pause and feel it. Following the light, roaming forward, then seeing scenery, seeing art, seeing the passage of time.”