In my city, time seems to flow backward. Withered trees bloom anew in spring, forgotten smells, sounds, and light return to memory. Demolished courtyards, alleys, and temples are restored to their original forms. Tiled roofs ripple across the low skyline like waves, while the cooing of pigeons echoes deep into the blue sky. Children grow up familiar with the changing seasons, and residents regain their sense of place.
——North Island’s ‘City Gate Open’
When people think of Beijing, they often imagine a dense maze of scattered buildings. Viewed from above, the narrow alleys stretching like capillaries are the true soul of the capital — the hutongs. Despite towering steel and concrete structures around them, these ancient lanes continue to capture the simple, everyday lives of ordinary people, carrying the city’s most fundamental memories.
Walking through Wudaoying Hutong, a clothing store named “Nagqu Shuiyue” stands among numerous shops, cafes, and other establishments amidst the street’s lively bustle. As the second Nagqu store opened in this alley, owner Mina invited her longtime friend, interior architect Wang Daquan, to design a bespoke space for her brand once again. With his unique perspective on traditional culture, Wang Daquan focuses on blending past and present through four overlapping elements, transforming Shuiyue into a window onto diverse facets of the city’s history and life.
First Layer
Honoring the Withered and Aged
The hutong, as the city’s “elder,” bears wrinkles etched into every brick and tile. The wooden beams of the houses, like bones beneath the skin, embody the soul of these old buildings.
Fully preserved beams breathe life into the space, while their gently faded pigments provide a simple yet profound foundation for the spirit of the place.
The bold, rough texture of cement contrasts with the delicate elegance of bamboo screens.
Within the interplay of shadows, ripples, and subtle textures, the lines of the “gentleman’s uniform” stand out with clarity and purity.
Second Layer
Nurturing Growth
The shop grows organically within the existing structure of the house, with design focused on expanding possibilities inside.
The name “Shuiyue” refers to a water pool inside the store, symbolizing the imagery of four waters converging in the hall. When it rains, drops fall along the eaves, gathering in the pond — a source of life and endless vitality.
A lone feather maple stands tall on its island in the pool, quietly embodying resilience within the gentle water’s reflection.
Viewed through the glass window, it gazes both inward and outward, reflecting the changing expressions of the seasons.
Various plants bloom and wither with the seasons in rustic pottery jars.
Muxiang, pomegranate, osmanthus, and wintersweet thrive amidst the aged architecture, inspiring vivid and creative ideas.
Third Layer
The Surge of Time
Weather changes, light and shadow shift, and the atmosphere of the space transforms — with every moment bringing new thoughts and emotions.
One cannot step into the same river twice, just as the beautiful scenes before us dissolve and re-form in new colors and shapes the next moment.
Since we cannot control these changes, there is no need to cling to permanence or complain. Design should never claim invincibility.
Embracing imperfection and allowing space for light, shadow, and scenery to evolve freely means each encounter brings fresh feelings.
Fourth Layer
Inner Stillness
Retreat into the quietness of a rainy day — playing the qin and brewing tea. Things are clearly present before your eyes, yet softly diffused in the light.
In moments of contemplation, a peaceful blankness appears in the heart, enveloping you in the comfort of the present.
Looking at the pool’s surface at the edge, the water reflects a state of truth and goodness.
Beyond being a clothing store, the space’s true meaning lies in mutual dependence and shared growth with its people.
Modernizing traditional culture and continuing the hutongs’ legacy, viewing the city’s culture through a local lens, is a beautiful tribute by one generation to both past and present.
Project Drawings
▲ First Floor Plan
▲ Second Floor Plan
Project Information
Project Name: Wudaoying Hutong Shuiyue
Design Company: Beijing Tianzuo Space Decoration Design Co., Ltd
Designer: Wang Daquan
Design Team: Bai Yuanhao
Design Year: 2018
Completion Year: 2019
Location: No. 59 Wudaoying Hutong, Beijing
Project Area: 200 square meters
Photography by Ma Xiaochun
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