A la carte
A la carte
HERITAGE
SHANGHAI IS NOTED FOR HAVING MORE ART DECO BUILDINGS THAN ANY OTHER CITY. FIRST BUILT IN 1910, THE VILLA IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE.
THIS VILLA WHICH WAS BEFORE OCCUPIED BY A ONE FAMILY DURING THE TURN OF THE CENTURY, HAS CHANGED OVER THE COURSE OF THE CITY'S ECONOMIC HISTORY. IT IS NOW OCCUPIED BY TWO FAMILIES, ONE ON EACH FLOOR, SHARING THE STAIRCASE.
THE PROJECT WAS TO RENOVATE THE FIRST FLOOR WITH THE GARDEN.
ART DECO
THE VILLA IS A WONDERFUL BLEND OF EASTERN AND WESTERN DESIGN. HERITAGE OF THE VERITABLE MELTING POT OF THIS PERIOD IN SHANGHAI. THE OWNER OF THE APARTMENT IS ALSO FROM A DUAL CULTURE: FRENCH AND CHINESE.
DURING ITS HEYDAYS, ART DECO REPRESENTED LUXURY, GLAMOUR, EXUBERANCE, AND FAITH IN SOCIAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS.
IT REFLECTS THE WAY OF LIVING OF THE OWNER AND ENHANCES THE PAST OF THE HOUSE.
A TOUCH OF MINIMALISM AROSE IN RESPONSE TO THE PERCEIVED BUSYNESS AND EXTRAVAGANT ART DECO.
CAPTURING THE SPIRIT OF THE HISTORIC PAST AND THE MAKING NEW
THE ENTRANCE LOBBY REMAINED UNCHANGED. AN OAK WINDING STAIRWAY LEADS UPSTAIRS TO THE SECOND APARTMENT AND AN ORIGINAL WOOD FLOOR HAS BEEN CAREFULLY RESTORED.
THE APARTMENT STARTS IN A LARGE LIVING ROOM WITH DECORATED STUC WALLS. ANTIQUE CHINESE AND ART DECO FURNITURE ARE PERFECTLY MATCHED TO MODERN ITEMS. THE WOOD FLOOR HAS TO BE REMOVED, IT IS NOW MADE OF TERRAZZO AS WE OFTEN FIND IN OLD HOUSES IN SHANGHAI. THE TERRAZZO IS ONE OF THE MAIN ELEMENT OF DECORATION THAT WE CAN SEE ALL AROUND THE VILLA AND ON THE TERRACE. THE STUDY OPENED IN THE LIVING ROOM IS LIKE A BLACK BOXE MADE OF DARK WOOD, WITH ITS FLOOR SLIGHTLY RAISED.
WITH THE COMPLEX AND REDUNDANT INTERPLAY OF TEXTURES AND CUSTOM-MADE ELEMENTS CONCURRING TO DEFINE THE SOPHISTICATED ATMOSPHERE, A ONE-OF-A-KIND EXPERIENCE LOUSILY INSPIRED, IN THE INTENTIONS OF THE CLIENTS, TO THE DECADENT TURN OF THE CENTURY FRENCH SALONS.
BLACK AND WHITE
AS WE ARE ON THE GROUND FLOOR, LIGHT WAS AN IMPORTANT CHALLENGE. THE WINDOWS WERE ENLARGED AND THE ELECTRICITY, AS WELL AS THE LIGHTING, WERE RETHOUGHT.
THE TERRACE WHICH FILLS ALMOST ALL THE GARDEN WAS DESIRED BY THE OWNER AND THEIR TWO CHILDREN TO ENJOY AN OUTDOOR LIFE. WE INSTALLED MANY SOFAS, DINING FURNITURE, AND BARBECUE.
A COAT OF BLACK PAINT HELPS THE SOPHISTICATED SPACE FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE AND INTIMATE.
ALEXANDRE DOTI, CONSTRUCTOR
LAURE CONSILLE, INTERIOR DESIGNER
SHANGHAI