Ink-Stone Vistas

Design inspiration for this space is drawn from the poetic imagery of "elaborate carvings and gilded decorations" found in the “Preface to Exaltation of Duke Teng's Tower”. The grandeur and intricate detail depicted in the poem have inspired the designer to aim for a space that is majestic yet merits close appreciation, grounded in the essence of Eastern culture. The designer utilized the philosophical concept of "Heaven is round, Earth is square" in the design vocabulary, incorporating symmetrical aesthetics into the patterns of the curtains and structural details. To avoid being overly traditional and rigid, modern simplicity in lines and contemporary materials is introduced. Wood textures and gold elements are employed to provide a restrained yet opulent texture.

-Elevating Grandeur with the High Ceiling

The designer fully leveraged the advantage of the high ceiling, incorporating asymmetrical window lattice patterns into the façade design. Stacked gold and black block elements create an upward-extending look, highlighting the spaciousness and grandeur of the area. Behind the counter, a backdrop featuring marble with landscape ink-splash motifs is chosen. Paired with ambient lighting, this “scroll” shifts through light and shadow, emanating a soft artistic ambiance. Eschewing paint and brush, the marble replicates the beauty of natural landscapes, achieving a delicate interpretation from form to spirit.

-Reinterpreting Chinese Aesthetics

The project takes the concept of "Heaven is round, Earth is square" as its design core, reinterpreting the cohesion and balance of Chinese aesthetics. The designer employs a curved design at the edges of the high ceiling, adding gold trim to accentuate its elegant contours. The flooring is based on solid and stable square marble structures, integrated with triangular geometric motifs to create a richly layered and proportionally precise aesthetic. The interplay of circle and square, heaven and earth, reflects a modern aesthetic that embraces diversity and inclusivity in its poetic and structured expression.