Dongqi Design has created the first 15 ESSENTIALS elements space in Shanghai. This location highlights aromatic culture, showcases essential oil products, and offers the public a calming environment for aromatherapy.
The stone materials were carefully selected by the designer directly from the quarry. The surfaces retain natural traces from mining, markings, and erosion, reflecting the stone’s social history. Each piece is taken from the outer layer of the raw material and arranged at specific angles on both sides of the walls. The gaps between stones reveal the smooth surfaces where the stone was cut.
The wooden display panels are crafted from whole logs. The laminated board edges preserve the natural bark texture, while the top and bottom surfaces reveal natural details like tree cambium.
The display system is designed for flexibility. Detachable fixing components on the laminated boards mimic the iron wedges used in traditional stone mining. These wedges slot into pre-set holes on the walls, supporting the shelves above. This modular setup allows for easy rearrangement. Custom wall lamps are also installed using the same method.
Lighting fixtures are staggered across the ceiling, while other equipment points are recessed vertically in a row to maintain a clean ceiling surface. The polished concrete floor features a warm yellow tone that complements the walls. Additionally, one entire wall is covered with mirrors.
The main entrance booth features two stacked stones. The horizontal stone is hollowed out in the center to create a four-tier stepped display platform with cavities. Suspended above this platform by steel cables is a micro extraction device whose trapezoidal shape fits perfectly within the hollowed stone below.
Within the space, there are two sets of incense burners. Each consists of three layers of cast iron laminates, stone pillars, and steel cables. The stone pillar’s center is hollowed and embedded into a waste bin. The laminated board’s curved shape invites customers to sit inside and fully immerse themselves in the fragrance experience.
The sink is crafted from a single piece of raw stone, preserving the stone’s natural outer skin on the sides. It is suspended and mounted to the wall as a whole unit. The top surface is carefully chiseled and polished to create a natural curvature that meets the functional needs of the sink.
Moss is planted on small platforms created by the uneven thickness of the stones. The meticulous handling of materials and details reflects the brand’s deep respect for nature and its pursuit of power beyond the natural world.
Project Drawings
△ Plan View
△ Analysis Chart
△ Analysis Chart
△ Analysis Chart
Project Information
Architect: Dongqi Design
Area: 25 m²
Project Year: 2023
Photographer: Wu Ding
Manufacturer: TAI Architecture & Decoration
Lead Architect: Jiang Nan
Design Team: Edoardo Nieri, Wu Huiyi, Zhang Danyi, Wang Ning, Wang Ruowei
Owner: 15 ESSENTIALS
Project Management: Fantawild Decoration
Location: Jing’an District
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