Project Background: Located in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China Resources Times Square is an old shopping mall undergoing renovation led by Japanese designer Daisuke Sato. The mall’s atmosphere embraces a lightweight, fashionable, and minimalist Japanese style.
Regional Context
The site consists of a triangular area connected by a fire evacuation channel and two separate blocks adjacent to a square. Each block is under 200 square meters in size.
The owners of the two blocks expressed concerns about the possibility of the space feeling like two separate stores in the future.
△ Store location © Yuanzhi Design
Design Strategy
Employing “Addition”
Since the two blocks are separate, the combined length of the shopping mall corridor facades exceeds 40 meters. The design uses “addition” to merge these facades visually by borrowing some public corridor space. By positioning the facades alongside the larger neighboring storefronts, this approach creates a strong psychological impression of a unified space, both volumetrically and visually.
Applying “Subtraction”
Yoga practitioners, primarily women, often wear colorful clothing. Incorporating such vibrant colors into the future spatial experience was a key design consideration.
Yoga emphasizes breathing and meditation, and the owners wanted the space to support not only physical practice but also mental cultivation.
Therefore, the design adopts “subtraction” by removing unnecessary forms and colors, minimizing spatial personality to restore the essence of the space. The result is a vague and ambiguous spatial container that invites personal interpretation.
△ From addition to subtraction – spatial generation diagram © Yuanzhi Design
△ Post-renovation effect
Using “Container” as a Concept for the Future Space
The color palette is limited to black, white, and gray, setting a neutral tone. If we imagine this space as a canvas, the environment serves as the background, while the people practicing inside are the dynamic content. This way, the “painting” changes daily, offering an ever-evolving experience.
Spatial Function and Organization
The entrance is designed to encourage a leisurely “stroll,” reflecting the casual shopping experience. The goal is to invite visitors to “accidentally discover the depths of the lotus,” creating a subconscious flow into the space.
At key points along the corridor, a booth has been designed, complemented by an open seating area near the reception desk. The chairs are intended to attract visitors to sit down. This simple gesture allows tired passersby to rest, potentially introducing yoga into their lives quietly and organically.
Strategic openings have been incorporated into the main yoga classroom to foster a “see and be seen” dynamic during operations. A casual glance back might even spark a serendipitous encounter.
One drawback of this layout is the lack of clear logical circulation paths, which may complicate reception activities.
In the quiet, private “SPA treatment” area, the space is transformed through a closed corridor leading to an inward-facing courtyard. The hallway atmosphere is intentionally hazy, enhanced by swirling cigarette smoke, flickering candlelight, and colorful light and shadow effects, guiding visitors gently through the space.
△ Layout plan © Yuanzhi Design
△ Huarun facade © Yuanzhi Design
△ Elevation drawing © Yuanzhi Design
Project Details
Project Name: Yuga Yoga Space
Location: Pudong New Area, Shanghai
Design Studio: YZD Studio Yuanzhi Design
Lead Designer: Zhao Zhiwei
Design Team: Xu Xiuxiu and Yang Xiaoman
Building Area: 380 square meters
Website: www.yzmxcc.com
Contact Email: __AI_S_SC0__
Design Period: June 2019
Completion Date: November 2019
Photography: Shanghai Three Image Photography
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