The project is situated within an office building in the High Tech Zone, owned by a sculptor. Since this site is just one of several venues for the artist and the area is limited, the owner imposed strict budget constraints. Despite this, the owner demanded a high level of aesthetic quality without specific design requirements, presenting a significant challenge for the design team: how to create a space that truly satisfies the owner’s vision?
In the Ming Dynasty book Yuan Ye by Ji Cheng, it is stated that although gardens are man-made, they should appear as if “opened from heaven”—the highest standard for classical Chinese gardens. The book also discusses gardening techniques, emphasizing the importance of “borrowing” elements from afar, neighbors, above, below, and even across time. These principles inspired the designers to create an interior space that reflects the aesthetic spirit of Eastern gardens within a modern environment, an idea that was immediately embraced by the owner.
Several challenges had to be addressed:
- The floor height was limited to only 3100mm, further restricted by existing pipelines and equipment.
- Due to budget limitations, the original floor could not be demolished, and existing water and electrical systems had to be utilized as much as possible.
- The design team faced the near-impossible task of working within a tight budget while creating a sense of spatial depth at the limited height, choosing materials that balanced texture and cost.
To overcome these issues, the designer routed all water and electrical systems from the ceiling, freeing the floor from wiring constraints and preventing damage.
The interior garden concept was realized mainly through the techniques of “adjacent borrowing” and “downward borrowing,” which involved blocking the upper line of sight to focus attention on the nearby landscape, creating a more intimate environment.
Between the meditation room and the landscape, “distant borrowing” and “upward borrowing” techniques were used to present a different view from the tea room, encouraging varied perspectives.
Given the strong natural light on site, a series of carefully designed occlusions allowed the space’s lighting to change throughout the day, applying the concept of “borrowing in time” and offering a dynamic aesthetic experience.
To maintain budget control, the team extensively researched and experimented with materials, eventually opting to recycle old wooden boards and apply a special rough putty surface treatment. This approach cut costs to roughly 50% of traditional wooden flooring and coatings, perfectly meeting the owner’s financial requirements.
The use of abundant gravel, indoor plants, and integrated architectural and landscape design techniques also contributed to energy savings by reducing the need for frequent air conditioning.
Upon completion, the project exceeded expectations, earning the owner’s high satisfaction and gratitude for the team’s cooperation and trust throughout the process.
Project Information
Project Name: See also
Project Location: Innovation Park Phase II, High Tech Zone, Fuzhou City
Interior Design Company: Yanlin Architectural Decoration Design Co., Ltd
Lead Designers: Ye Gongfeng, Tang Jianfeng
Participating Designer: Gong Chunliang
Design Period: February 14, 2020 – June 18, 2020
Building Area: 138 square meters
Main Materials Used: Recycled wooden boards, coatings, gravel, etc.
Awards:
- First Prize of Fujian Interior Design and Grand Prix
- Excellent Award at IFI China Interior Design Awards
- Excellent Award at the 5th China International Space Environment Art Design Competition
- Jintang Award National Alliance Fujian Station Overall Evaluation List 2018 Best Office Space
- The 9th International Space Design Award – Aite Award Fuzhou Division Office Space Design Excellence Award
- Top 10 Most Innovative Designers at the 7th China International Building Decoration and Design Expo
- Excellent Award at the 3rd China International Space Environment Art Design Competition
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