© Liu Haowei
The Zhuo Yanlige Medical Aesthetics Clinic, designed by CAA Architectural Firm, has recently been completed and is now operational.
CAA’s collaboration with Lige Group, a leading company in the medical beauty industry, dates back ten years. Initially, they created the first clinic under the Zhuoyan brand with the design concept centered on “natural vitality.” A decade later, CAA was invited again to undertake a comprehensive brand upgrade.
Located in the iconic international community of Lidu in Beijing, the project spans approximately 1,200 square meters over two floors. The space is divided into public service areas and specialized medical beauty treatment zones.
△ Entrance facade © Boris Shiu
The medical beauty market in China is currently the fastest growing worldwide. However, the rapid development has resulted in a mixed and sometimes chaotic industry landscape.
CAA Architecture Firm aims to redefine industry standards through the spatial design of Zhuo Yanlige Medical Aesthetics Clinic. Their goal is to reshape public perception, emphasizing respect for life, a pursuit of natural beauty, and an appreciation for art within medical aesthetics.
△ Reception area on the first floor © Boris Shiu
This project continues CAA’s interior design philosophy, expressing humanity’s timeless pursuit of physical beauty within a dynamic and vibrant environment. The overall design language is inspired by organic forms, digital aesthetics, and traditional Oriental freehand brushwork.
©CAA Architects
01 Life Curve
The entrance facade features a smooth, pure wall resembling living skin, layered with rhythmic, breathing “cheeks.” Soft light and shadow penetrate the structure, blurring the boundaries between the clinic’s interior and exterior public spaces, seamlessly integrating them.
The “breathing gills” of the wall obscure spatial boundaries © Boris Shiu
The “breathing gills” create a fluid spatial boundary © Boris Shiu
02 Spatiotemporal Transformation
The entrance is defined by a three-dimensional curved cavity framed in light gray natural stone, acting as a transitional space between the interior and exterior of the clinic. This hyperbolic enclosure evolves into a “container” that invites visitors inside.
The ‘container’ inviting people to enter © Boris Shiu
03 Natural Texture
The ceremonial lobby space unfolds along a central axis, with walls that appear alive, rhythmically opening and closing to “breathe.” Irregular cracks along the walls subtly conceal the boundary between the reception area and functional spaces within the hall.
The visual focal point is a contemporary artwork combining natural stone geometry with traditional Chinese ink painting motifs. Viewed from the center, it shifts from two-dimensional to three-dimensional, evoking a space-time tunnel reminiscent of interstellar travel.
Irregular cracks on the wall open and close rhythmically © Boris Shiu
Natural stone geometric composition with ink-and-wash imagery marks the end of the central axis © Boris Shiu
04 Organic Growth
The “cellular” space enclosed by two spiral staircases serves as a VIP reception area, resembling an elegant and complex life form. Its surface texture is derived from abstract landscape data, conveying energy in a semi-transparent, semi-concealed, semi-virtual, and semi-real manner.
Immersed within this space, visitors feel as if they are enveloped in a mysterious and serene matrix.
△ Abstract landscape digital translation © CAA Architects
Cellular space enclosed by spiral staircases © Boris Shiu
Cellular space enclosed by spiral staircases © Boris Shiu
05 Elegant Color Palette
The overall color scheme and material design emphasize high-end gray and light gray wood grains as the primary tones, complemented by pure gray and white hues.
This neutral palette, combined with diverse textures, creates a warm, comfortable, tranquil, and refined atmosphere, embodying an Eastern Zen aesthetic.
The VIP reception area on the second floor features a gray and white color scheme © Boris Shiu
Neutral warm gray tones in the VIP lounge © Boris Shiu
06 Eastern Ambience
The VIP space utilizes a design approach that balances reality and illusion. The “bamboo shadow” screen acts as a transformative medium, creating a symmetrical yet subtly divided spatial axis.
Looking through the grille screen, reality and virtuality coexist, evoking a delicate and ethereal Eastern aesthetic that is both partially revealed and concealed.
△ Dynamic and flexible spatial relationship created by the screen © CAA Architects
△ Bamboo Shadow Screen in VIP Lounge © Boris Shiu
△ Bamboo Shadow Screen in VIP Lounge © Boris Shiu
Through the screen, reality and illusion complement each other © Boris Shiu
Quoting Eastern aesthetics master Zong Baihua on the ideal realm of Eastern art: “In the smile of picking flowers, one can grasp the subtle and profound Zen essence within colors.”
CAA aims to reflect this understated and sincere traditional Eastern aesthetic in their spatial design, embodying the “smile of picking flowers” philosophy.
Geometric spatial and material composition of the second-floor public area © Boris Shiu
Geometric composition of space and materials in VIP treatment rooms © Boris Shiu
07 Ink Inspiration
Throughout the design process, a modernist interpretation of the traditional Chinese landscape painting technique of “freehand brushwork” was central.
From digitally translating calligraphy and painting methods to selecting natural stone with elegant ink-like textures, this project reflects CAA’s deep admiration for traditional ink freehand brushwork.
The second-floor facade flows gracefully like water © Boris Shiu
This space embodies an organically grown, digitally inspired freehand experience that aligns with CAA’s consistent design philosophy, blending futurism with abstract Eastern humanistic traditions.
It offers an adaptive and flexible environment for the medical beauty industry, setting new spatial standards for brand excellence.
Project Drawings
△ First floor plan
△ Second floor plan
△ Section diagram
Project Information
Project Name: Zhuo Yanlige Medical Aesthetics Clinic
Location: Beijing, China
Project Type: Medical
Design Area: 1,200 square meters
Design Date: January 2022
Completion Date: October 2022
Status: Completed
Designer: CAA Architecture Firm
Lead Architect: Liu Haowei
Technical Directors: Leo Dy. Ajima, Miriam Llorente
Project Management: Zhang Pan, Luo Xuan
Design Team: Ye Wenjie, Li Shuyao
Owner: Beijing United Lige Medical Investment Group
Collaborative Building Material Consultants: Qiku Decoration Materials (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Keding (Shanghai) Trading Co., Ltd
Construction Party: Beijing Zhongzhu Hongcheng Construction Engineering Co., Ltd
Photography: Boris Shiu
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