DCDSAA Yodogawa Architectural Design Firm completed a significant architectural planning and design project in Shanghai this year — the LILITH LILITH Cottage (Cat House Garden). The architects aimed to foster a harmonious relationship between the architecture, surrounding courtyards, and nature through minimalist geometric deconstruction and serene symmetry.
“The architecture embraces an open and natural connection with rhythm and clear facades,” said Mr. Wang Hao, the chief architect of DCDSAA. “Our rigorous planning and design process, grounded in in-depth research and exploration of future architecture, creates a ceremonial yet open private space. The building links seamlessly with the courtyard, and their interaction offers a unique experiential pleasure.”
Located at the Yunjian Granary Cultural and Creative Park in Songjiang, Shanghai, the site includes a collection of historic old barn buildings along the banks of the People’s River. As a former granary, the project’s mission is to coexist harmoniously with the surrounding landscape and to integrate naturally into the site’s architectural fabric.
Before renovation
△ Construction Process Diagram
The entrance features a sloping, irregular frame composed of a floating BOX, presenting dynamic upper and lower facades. The facade incorporates large floor-to-ceiling glass panels, and each three-dimensional BOX structure echoes the outdoor garden’s water scenery like a sculpture, infusing fluidity into the space.
The interior’s overall minimalist design embraces a beige palette, featuring a semi-circular sunken leisure area with elegant lines and tactile appeal. The space benefits from abundant natural light and a generous width, encouraging interaction and reflection between light and architecture. This interplay of light creates a contrast between fantasy and reality, endowing the building with a pure, modern art museum atmosphere.
The rich and ever-changing landscape surrounding the building offers diverse and engaging experiences. Every indoor open space not only provides excellent panoramic views but also creates a close connection between outdoor and independent indoor areas. The site and architectural design cleverly leverage changes in scale and floor height to produce captivating contrasts in volume, resulting in a unique spatial and visual experience.
The symmetrical lighting of each BOX reflects the pure form of the building, guiding the space toward intriguing artistic expressions. This design also introduces the “natural attributes” of the structure, evoking a visible natural sentiment that fulfills our pursuit of experiential quality and ideals.
The staggered design creates a series of continuous landscape views. Public spaces within the building are organized around an outdoor garden terrace, making the boundaries between indoor and outdoor areas more fluid. The overall design consists of two small buildings, with a check-in terrace above them. This terrace is planted with greenery, resembling aerial gardens floating above the site and river, fostering a natural and harmonious indoor-outdoor environment.
The two-story sky garden structure appears to float above the first floor, creating a striking suspended form. Interacting with the water feature below, the second-floor facade varies in form — sometimes delicate, sometimes calm — creating a natural, soft, beautiful, and dynamic atmosphere, serving as an impressive observation deck.
Another cat house building adopts a connected, integrated design spanning two open floors, featuring extensive glass and transparency. This emphasizes spatial comfort and a seamless connection with light and nature. The unconscious harmony between cats and nature perfectly embodies the concept of “unconscious architecture.”
The inward-facing outdoor garden at the rear of the building creates a tranquil inner sanctuary. The interaction between the courtyard and natural water features forms a beautiful garden space filled with modern poetic qualities.
Project Drawings
△ Base plan
△ Location diagram
△ First floor plan
△ Second floor plan
△ Section diagram
△ Section diagram
△ Sectional Decomposition Diagram
Project Information
Project Name: LILITH LILITH Cabin, Floating Space Box by the People’s River in Shanghai Yunjian Granary
Location: Songjiang, Shanghai, China
Building Area: 350 square meters
Project Type: Exhibition / Cat House Garden
Owner: LILITH
Architectural Design: DCDSAA Yodogawa Architecture Firm
Interior Design: DCDSAA Yodogawa Architecture Firm
Landscape Design: DCDSAA Yodogawa Architecture Firm
Company Website: www.dcdstudio.cn
Lead Architect: Wang Hao
Design Team: Yuan Zhengliang, Tang Chao, Yan Bingkun
Design Date: July 2021
Construction Date: November 2021
Construction Unit: Shanghai Dianchuan Architectural Design Co., Ltd
Main Materials: Stone, steel plate, metal, glass, textured paint, green plants
Project Photography: Wu Qingshan
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