BIM Architecture: Standing Wood Design Seminar Room at Homestead Shanghai

With the introduction of the comprehensive two-child policy, more young couples in the country are embracing family life with multiple children.

Limu Design Research Studio has long been dedicated to redefining traditional home layouts, moving beyond the conventional “N rooms and N halls” concept. Their research focuses on creating living spaces that evolve with the times, aiming to tackle complex challenges and bring homes back to everyday life and reality.

In 1992, at just 10 years old, Wei Qian won the gold medal in the Cross Strait Chinese Children’s Palace Calligraphy and Painting Competition with a painting of his hometown. Once a gifted and energetic young artist, 26 years later Wei Qian has again “painted” his hometown of Guilin—this time capturing its essence within a lakeside apartment in Jiading, Shanghai.

Second Child Couple, Third Generation Family

Magic City New Home, Connecting to Hometown

The apartment was originally a four-bedroom, one living room unit, with a vast living room designed as a poetic blank space. However, the large living room and small bedrooms made the space feel empty and underutilized. Owners Wei Qian and Liu Yuan wanted a free, open space for their two children to move and play, while also bringing the picturesque scenery of Guilin into their home.

A Living Room That Required Shouting to Communicate Before Renovation

[Wall]

The primary design challenge was to eliminate the sense of distance created by the vast 50m² living room. To address this, a six-meter-long wall was constructed to represent a “mountain” within the living room. This mountain features platforms and stairs, caves and ball pits at its base, an extended bar, roaring slides at the front, and hidden cat holes and sky-watching suspension bridges behind it.

Wei Xiaoqian “Crossing Mountains and Ridges” Around the Wall (GIF)

This 20m² mountain includes five uniquely shaped cave openings that capture the form and spirit of the landscape. As the family’s daily routine of “climbing mountains, climbing trees, and exploring caves” unfolds, the once empty living room now echoes with the laughter and joy of children.

The Slide Under Elephant Trunk Mountain

Alongside the various cave openings, the wall features an arc combining stairs and slides. This circular path is specially designed: climb the stairs, slide down, play in the ball pit, crawl through the opening behind the sofa, or run back to the stairs for continuous fun and exercise.

The Deep Tabletop in Front of the Wall Reflects the Activities on the Wall

The Suspension Bridge Behind the Wall, Flying Frame, Living Room, and Walkway

The Suspension Bridge and Cat Hole Behind the Wall

While the wall itself is engaging, a single path can become monotonous. To add variety, a glass and rope net suspension bridge was added behind the wall. This provides additional activity options after climbing the stairs: besides sliding down, one can cross the bridge, crawl through holes, zipline like an ape down the cable, and then rest in the cozy cat hole.

Father and Son Playing on the Wall Using the Cat Hole

Moments of Quiet in Front of the Wall

[Wall] Sliding Door of the Front TV Cabinet (GIF)

The Entrance Wall

The wall serves multiple purposes: it breaks the overwhelming scale, alleviates feelings of alienation, and protects privacy within the vast space. Elements such as a bar counter, stairs, steps, slides, platforms, corridors, tree holes, and hanging chairs create a series of intimate daily spaces. These interconnected “gaps” function like a sponge, accommodating endless activity possibilities for the entire family (BIM architecture).

When playing, the wall becomes a prop and stage; in quiet moments, it offers comfort and refuge.

Once the renovation of the living room—the “key issue” of the entire apartment—was resolved, the rest of the renovation proceeded smoothly. The “small repairs” made in other rooms were handled with empathy and meticulous attention to detail.

For instance, recognizing Wei Qian and Liu Yuan’s significant storage needs as fashion industry professionals, the design introduced two independent dressing rooms within the originally limited master bedroom. Additionally, one bathroom was converted into a storage room, providing ample space for future needs.

A Master Bedroom Featuring Two Walk-in Closets

Drawing inspiration from Wei Qian’s childhood memories of wading in the Li River, stone slabs and pebbles were air-freighted from Guilin and incorporated into the bathroom design, bringing a nostalgic touch to the space within the BIM framework.

Slate and Pebbles in the Bathroom

The children’s room, less than 5m², is cleverly divided into two levels: sleeping quarters on top and living space below. This setup provides an all-in-one area for learning, playing, resting, and daily activities.

Children’s Room

View of the Children’s Room Entrance Frame

Wei Qian and Liu Yuan’s deep involvement in the soft furnishings stage made this project particularly engaging. Both received high-quality art education and currently work in the fashion industry. These photos capture the moments of building this “home,” which, though unfinished, will become a genuine work of art under their care—showcasing not only their paintings and exhibits but also the traces of everyday life.

Comparison of Floor Plans Before and After Renovation

Axonometric Drawing

Project Information:

Owners: Wei Qian, Liu Yuan

Design: Standing Wood Design Research Laboratory

Lead Architects: Liu Jinrui, Guo Lan, Feng Qiong

Chief Architect: John

Project Manager: Guo Lan

Design Team: Zhang Endong, Feng Fei, Huang Hanyi, Xie Shunbing

Construction Drawing Design: Lai Wuyi

Soft Decoration Design: Wei Qian, Liu Yuan

On-site Management: Du Zhiqiang

Project Location: Jiading, Shanghai

Project Feature: Child Psychological Family Design

Area: 180m²

Cost: 300,000 yuan

Design Cycle: April – May 2018

Construction Period: April – December 2018

Main Materials: Maple veneer, wooden flooring (Anxin), formaldehyde-resistant gypsum board (Ushijiboro), soft pack, climbing net, steel cable

HVAC Consultant: Wang Wei

Photography by Hu Yijie

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