Press Release
Ping Zhang Is Honored with the Bronze A' Design Award for Orient Original Residence in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
Ping Zhang acknowledged for interior space and exhibition design by the international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 22, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ Orient Original Residence by Ping Zhang has been granted the Bronze A' Design Award in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design category, A' Design Award & Competition has announced. The result belongs to the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
The Bronze A' Design Award Explained
The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
About Orient Original Residence
Orient Original is a residential interior design for a 500 square meter home in Beijing, China. A sunlit underground atrium forms the center of the plan, linking two lower levels and blurring the boundary between above and below ground. The sunken area can serve as a tearoom, a lounge or a cinema. A glass roof, glass brick walls and mirrored panels increase daylight and widen the sense of space. Dark wood veneers meet light timber and natural stone. Custom furniture and storage support daily family life and social gatherings.
About Ping Zhang
Principal at Ping Design African Art Collector With 20 years of experience, she focuses on evolving emotional and lifestyle needs in contemporary households, excels in mediating the relationship between people and space, and adheres to a design philosophy of “order, fun, love, and self-expression.” She pioneered the “Villa as a Living System” design framework and established the industry’s first “Life Delivery System”.
Award Record
This recognition makes Ping Zhang a winner of 2 A' Design Awards. The awards were granted between the 2024 - 2025 and the 2025 - 2026 editions of the A' Design Award & Competition.
About the A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award
The A' Interior Design Award is an international interior design competition recognizing good interior designs by interior designers and architects worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to interior designers, interior architects, architects and decorators from all countries. Typical entries include residential interiors, restaurants, hotels, offices, galleries and retail stores. The awarded interior designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/interior
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/176444
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/176444
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!176444
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/359402
- Further Information from the Laureate: http://985.so/azu67
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Orient Original Residence
- Function
- Residence
- Category
- Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Discipline
- Spatial Design
- Industry
- Architecture and Packaging & Retail
- Colors
- Black, Dark Slate Gray, Gray, Dim Gray and Sienna
- Images
- 5
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Ping Zhang
- Country
- China
- Recognition
- Bronze A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #176444
Credits
- Image Credits
- Photos by: HANMO VISION | YI GAO
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- A sunlit underground atrium is the project's highlight, blurring boundaries between above and below ground. The sunken area flexibly transforms into a tearoom, lounge, or cinema. Black tones anchor spatial strength, while warm timber softens contours. Light and shadow act as the language of space, balancing order and freedom for everyday living.
- Inspiration
- The project draws inspiration from the owner's desire for tranquility. Natural light, timber, and the passage of time form the core elements, shaping a 500 sqm home that embodies serenity and cultural depth. The space evolves with daily life, becoming a reflection of the resident's soul and a place of spiritual belonging.
- Research
- The study focused on urban women's lifestyles and emotional needs. Through interviews and observation, the team identified "serenity and ease" as the design goal. Iterative spatial experiments refined the approach, resulting in a home that accommodates both daily routines and inner reflection, proving the synergy of light, material, and lifestyle.
- Challenge
- The original B2 space was narrow and dim, so the south side was expanded to improve daylight. The vertical connection between B1 and B2 was opened, creating interaction between the two levels. Unlike traditional layouts, the ground floor living room was removed and transformed into a multifunctional leisure space for the owner, while dining and kitchen activities were shifted to the B1 area.
- Realization and Technology
- The project uses a glass roof and glass brick walls to maximize daylight, with mirrored panels extending spatial perception. Dark wood veneers contrast with light timber textures and natural stone, creating balance between strength and softness. Custom furniture and storage emphasize both function and aesthetics, highlighting the interplay of material and light.
- Operation and Interaction
- The design emphasizes adaptability and interaction: the sunken zone shifts from tearoom to lounge to cinema, while the dining area supports both daily meals and family gatherings. Changing daylight transforms atmosphere, offering residents layered experiences and a resonance between nature, time, and emotional states.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project is located in Beijing, China. Design began in May 2022 and was completed in December 2023.
- Specifications
- The residence spans 500 sqm. Key areas include a tearoom, dining spaces, living room, bedrooms, and multifunctional zones. The layout balances daily family needs with social gatherings, achieving comfort, flexibility, and spatial cohesion.
- Keywords
- Daylight, atrium, flexible space, light and shadow, timber, serenity, ease, family life, spiritual belonging, poetic dwelling
