MoreLess Furniture is a brand founded by renowned furniture designer Mr. Hou Zhengguang. As a pioneer in original furniture brands, MoreLess Furniture continuously explores ways to create modern Chinese living spaces.
A Consistent Spatial Pattern
The exhibition hall is situated within the M50 Creative Industry Park on the famous Moganshan Road in Shanghai. It serves as an extension of MoreLess Furniture’s flagship store in Shanghai. This expansion increases the area beyond the original exhibition hall designed in 2012, utilizing an old factory building connected by a narrow 3.3-meter-wide corridor. The original exhibition hall’s front entrance faces west and remains the primary access point for visitors.
▲ Project location within the park
▲ Main entrance
▲ Entrance hall
This extension is located on the park’s east side, featuring a gate facing the Suzhou River. The riverside walkway in front of this gate will soon connect to government-planned commercial streets at both ends. As a result, the design of the back gate (east gate) is crucial, requiring a landmark element to attract future pedestrian traffic. However, the facade is constrained by the existing building height limits and the angled staircase, preventing a large-scale design.
Therefore, the key visual symbol of the furniture exhibition hall’s facade—the “Little White Room”—is retained as the entrance sign for the exhibition hall. The sloped roof of this small white room aligns with the staircase slope, creating a harmonious blend. It appears understated yet successfully lifts the space out of the somewhat chaotic building context.
▲ Rear entrance facing Suzhou River
▲ Rear entrance facade
▲ Rear section
Upon entering through this door, visitors descend 0.6 meters. The small white room is slightly suspended indoors, creating a floating, light impression from within the exhibition hall. Resembling a small temple or stage, it adds a ceremonial atmosphere to the space. Solo musical performances are often held here after opening hours.
▲ Rear entrance hall
▲ Corner view through the back door
▲ Interior view of the rear hall
▲ Small white room floating above the back door
▲ View from the tea area to the small white room near the back door
The interior includes a narrow mezzanine with a height of only 1.95 meters due to spatial constraints. Designed as a reception tea room, the low ceiling does not feel cramped when seated on the floor and provides a setting to showcase some low-profile furniture pieces.
▲ Original factory building elements preserved wherever possible
Minimalism with a Human Touch
The concrete frame of the original factory building exhibits a strong early industrial style. Over decades, multiple renovations have left paint marks and rough concrete textures, adding a sense of weight and history. To emphasize the furniture, interior walls remain painted in a controlled gray palette.
▲ A tea room exuding a sense of ceremony
▲ Bedroom furniture display on the mezzanine
The main furniture pieces throughout the exhibition hall are primarily crafted from natural walnut wood, complemented by leather, fabric, and artistic accessories. Bright colors are avoided, favoring a natural, simple, elegant, and tranquil palette. This atmosphere not only highlights the furniture but also sets the stage for ongoing small events like art exhibitions, lectures, music performances, tea parties, cocktail gatherings, and even hotpot dinners. The goal is to create a versatile venue, embracing the idea that “a teahouse without hotpot is not a proper exhibition hall.”
▲ Exhibition space
▲ Exhibition area with a cozy, homelike atmosphere
▲ Living room furniture display
▲ Restaurant furniture display
▲ Study furniture display
▲ A corner rich with literary ambiance
▲ Teahouse functions
▲ Teahouse functions
▲ Spatial separation
▲ Space under the stairs
▲ Architectural details
Project Drawings
▲ First floor plan
▲ Second floor plan
▲ West facade (main entrance)
▲ East facade (secondary entrance)
▲ Conceptual exterior facade sketch
▲ Interior conceptual sketch
Project Information
Design Company: Shanghai Shanxiang Architectural Design Co., Ltd
Owner: How Much Furniture
Designers: Wang Shanxiang and Hou Zhengguang
Design Team: Lu Zhiyang, Wang Wei, Yu Xi, Wang Shanhui
Photography: Hu Wenjie
Completed: 2018
Location: Rooms 104-106, Building 17, No. 50 Moganshan Road, Shanghai
Design Area: 408 square meters
Main Materials: steel structure, glass, textured paint, floor tiles, solid wood composite flooring, bamboo curtains
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