Interviews with Ying Zhang

Drawing inspiration from the calm and layered qualities of a bamboo grove, wooden grilles enclose the underground pool area and create dynamic light-and-shadow patterns. The result is a serene, private space where visitors can feel relaxed, enhancing the clubhouse’s luxurious and tranquil ambiance.

SOM’s precise spatial logic helped balance building structure with interior functions, organizing circulation in areas like the pool and gym. BIG’s narrative approach inspired the integration of natural elements, with wooden grilles and light-and-shadow patterns linking inside and out. Together, these strategies unify architecture and interior design, contributing to the project’s Iron A’ Design Award win.

To address the 5,600 mm floor-to-floor height, we applied a “vertical layering + element echo” strategy. The upper-level residential lobby uses warm wood finishes and low-saturation lighting to create a welcoming atmosphere, while the lower level extends the wooden grilles and maintains consistent stone flooring to carry the lobby’s materiality down to the subterranean facilities. The double-height space enhances transparency between levels, allowing each floor to maintain its distinct character while achieving a harmonious visual and experiential connection.

The combination of curved elements and hard stone balances soft transitions with spatial materiality. Curved lines soften the coldness of stone, creating a fluid guide that naturally transitions visitors’ emotions from outdoors to indoors. The stone, meanwhile, ensures a sense of high-end quality, aligning with the clubhouse’s positioning. Together, they make the reception area both ceremonial and welcoming, perfectly fulfilling its role as a transitional space.

We used light, shadow, and materials to create contrasting atmospheres while maintaining visual continuity. In the underground courtyard, artificial lighting is minimized and wooden grilles cast intricate shadows, producing a serene and mysterious ambiance. On the upper lobby level, large windows and bright finishes emphasize openness. Stone floors and wooden elements are consistently applied across both levels, serving as a visual thread that ensures continuity while allowing a dramatic shift in atmosphere between spaces.

Wood imparts a warm, natural feel and connects the interior with nature. Marble showcases its natural veining, while brushed stainless steel adds restrained elegance to balance the other two. Together, these materials let artificial surfaces reflect natural qualities, combining refined architecture with a sense of warmth and embodying the vision of architecture in harmony with nature.

We designed the space to harmonize luxury and sustainability. The gym, pool, and other amenities use energy-efficient lighting and water recycling, while wooden grilles and greenery introduce natural light and micro-ecosystems. This maintains a premium experience while blending natural elements and eco-friendly systems, meeting urban elites’ demand for luxurious yet sustainable leisure spaces.

We planned circulation with main corridors and guiding nodes. Wide corridors link the lobby, yoga room, and other core areas, while curved walls, wooden grilles, and light changes guide visitors at transitions. Stone flooring keeps the space connected, so each zone feels independent yet part of a coherent whole.

The No.1 Courtyard Club proves that luxury doesn’t have to be separate from nature. By blending materials, light, and greenery, the space feels both high-end and naturally warm. Going forward, luxury communities could bring nature into everyday life — wind, light, and plants in every functional area — creating living spaces where you can truly experience nature, and leading the way for nature-integrated luxury.

In the 8-meter-high sand table area, we aimed to create a dual experience of visual impact and emotional resonance through the use of extreme vertical space. The design draws inspiration from the tangible expression of urban landmarks—by amplifying the sand table’s presence with extraordinary height, it becomes the spatial core. As visitors look upward, they experience an awe similar to that of facing a city skyline. Immersed in observation, they begin to envision future living or commercial scenes. Ultimately, the “height of the space” transforms into an “emotional elevation,” guiding visitors from visual perception to emotional connection.

The combination of wooden grilles and brushed stainless steel allows precise control of light and shadow through their contrasting properties. The wooden grilles soften and filter light, adding warmth and a sense of calm, while the brushed stainless steel reflects it, enhancing spatial refinement and depth. This dialogue between softness and strength—absorption and reflection—creates a dynamic interplay of light, perfectly embodying the design vision of harmony between nature and technology.

In the reception area, traditional fence elements are reinterpreted into a ceremonial façade—challenging the conventional notion that a fence must separate or restrict. Drawing inspiration from the transparency and rhythmic order of traditional Chinese railings, we removed their enclosed quality while preserving their lattice texture and symmetrical beauty. Reconstructed with modern materials, the façade retains the ritual sense of defining space, yet allows light and shadow to pass through, maintaining openness. In this transformation, the traditional symbolism of “protection” evolves into a contemporary spatial language of “welcome,” creating an atmosphere that feels both dignified and inviting from the moment visitors enter.

My experience at SOM and BIG infused the design of the Light Sales Office with a dual DNA of rational structure and human warmth.From SOM, I learned the precision of spatial proportions and the rigor of functional logic, which enabled me to approach circulation planning and vertical space — such as the 8-meter-high sand table area — with a more analytical perspective, balancing visual impact and practical needs.At BIG, I was inspired by its strength in narrative design and its bold, unconventional thinking, which encouraged me to transform elements like light and materials into a spatial language that breaks away from the rigidity often found in commercial environments.The fusion of these two design philosophies resulted in a retail space that embodies both international professionalism and emotional resonance — a balance that became one of the key reasons the project received the A’ Design Award.

The core tower’s light curtain guides and engages visitors. Dynamic light draws attention to key areas, preventing circulation confusion, while shifting shadows invite interaction, turning the visitor journey into an immersive and memorable experience.

We applied urban planning principles to the interior: main routes lead to the core area, while secondary spaces accommodate leisure zones for smooth circulation. Inspired by public gathering points, transitional areas around the core guide visitors to pause, creating a space that is both dynamic and welcoming.

The emotional flow of the space is achieved through layered design elements. Low-saturation lighting and wooden textures in the entrance create a calm, elegant welcome. Transitional areas introduce more complex light and shadow, paired with soft furnishings to gently engage visitors. In the core zone, dynamic light curtains, tall ceilings, and interactive features heighten the experience, while meeting areas return to warm materials and soft illumination. The sequence of calm → gradual activation → dynamic → serene allows emotions to flow naturally through the space.

The sand table occupies the central position for both practical and experiential reasons. It acts as the main exhibit and organizes visitor flow, avoiding chaos. Its 8-meter height creates a striking visual focal point, enhanced by light and shadow effects, while surrounding interactive zones invite visitors to engage, making the sand table the heart of the spatial experience.

This light-and-shadow strategy offers a model for future retail: moving from purely functional illumination to emotional lighting. By using dynamic and scenographic light effects, spaces gain the ability to convey mood. Retailers could apply this by matching light rhythms to customer journeys — soft lighting at entrances to ease visitors in, interactive light in key areas to engage, and warm lighting in rest zones to encourage lingering. Light then becomes a connector between space and emotion, turning retail into an experience that resonates with customers.