How do we describe the passage of time when we’re with our family? How can we make the most of it? Perhaps you want to create a personal space for yourself while still being able to keep your loved ones within sight.
Eight Wilderness Design has completed a 420-square-meter duplex apartment in Shanghai, tailored for a young couple and their two children. The owners desired a private home that combines spaciousness, simplicity, and multifunctionality, allowing them to enjoy quality time with family and friends. Translating the owners’ lifestyle into the design has always been a key focus for Eight Wilderness Design. As the lead architect explains, “The homeowner is the soul of the space and the core inspiration behind our design.”
Situated on a quiet street in central Shanghai lined with French wutong and magnolia trees, the apartment enjoys a serene atmosphere. Over 10 meters of tree canopies gently shield the balcony windows, providing the family with a peaceful refuge amidst the bustling city. The project involved transforming a 4.6-meter-high space into a modern, minimalist duplex with dynamic spatial connections.
The owners expressed that they don’t require many rooms and prioritize spending time together every day. Taking these needs into account, Eight Wilderness Design emphasized openness and spatial flow, enhancing visual connectivity throughout the home. A sculptural element combining a passage, staircase, and fireplace was designed within the 4.6-meter ceiling height, strategically placed at the intersection of the living room, kitchen, and dining area. This feature elegantly defines and links the private and public zones.
To ensure the second floor feels stable and solid, reinforced concrete was used for the duplex structure. The design cleverly conceals the bulky beams of the second floor, preventing the high ceiling space from feeling oppressive despite the inserted upper level.
The central passageway runs from the entrance and horizontally connects the second-floor children’s room, storage, couple’s dressing room, and the male owner’s study. From this corridor, the dining and living rooms on either side are visually separated yet fully connected. The staircase and fireplace open up the living room’s center, linking the two duplex levels vertically and serving as a visual focal point. Every corner—from the family room downstairs to the study upstairs, from the sunlit breakfast nook to the balcony, and from the hallway to the fireplace—features clear functions with seamless sightlines.
A spiral steel staircase connects the master bedroom to the dressing room upstairs, ensuring privacy for the owners.
The lighting design contrasts beautifully with the minimalist material palette. Volcanic stone and marble powder plaster create a uniform color tone with enduring elegance, subtly reflecting light across varied textures. At the heart of the living room sits a dynamic modular sofa island that connects the surrounding areas and invites children to climb and explore.
The family room adjacent to the living room is set slightly lower, yet opens up to the rest of the space. Continuous light oak flooring and low furniture arrangements create a warm, spacious atmosphere. Above the dining table hangs an array of irregular pebble-shaped frosted glass chandeliers, adjacent to a sunroom and a warm gray monochrome kitchen.
The kitchen, located beneath the walk-in closet, features a limited ceiling height. However, the high-ceilinged dining room and the dappled tree shadows in the sunroom provide a breathing space between the kitchen and living areas, preventing any feeling of confinement.
“We truly enjoy the moments designed by Eight Wilderness Design in every corner of our home, allowing us to focus on each other at all times,” said the apartment owner. This sentiment perfectly captures the intention behind the renovation of this duplex apartment.
Project Drawings
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Analysis Chart
△ Analysis Chart
Project Information
Project Name: 420 Square Meter Duplex Apartment Under Wutong Tree
Lead Designers: Shirley Dong, Andrea Maira
Design Team: Hutsov Yakiv, Matteo Piotti, Hachima Design Team
Design Company: Eight Wilderness Architectural Design Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd
Location: Shanghai, China
Completion Date: August 2022
Building Area: 420 Square Meters
Photography: Zhang Daqi
Owner: Private
Materials: Art paint, ceramic tiles, stone slabs, glass, wood, metal, mirror, artificial stone
Brands Used: Viabizzuno, Foscarini, Flos, Living Divani, B&B Italia, Vitra, 草字头, Gira, Gessi, Danilo, Imondi, Stile, Imola, Laminam, Garofoli, Gaggenau, V-zug, Snaidero, Liebherr, Tabu
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