Warm honey-toned timber dominates Tim Tan's Myriad Circles Residential Housing, where an extraordinary pitched ceiling of parallel wooden slats converges toward a triangular apex punctuated by luminou

Soaring timber beams articulate a cathedral-like residential lobby ceiling where structural expressionism meets refined hospitality design, the composition dominated by an intricate interplay of warm

A cantilevered pavilion anchors the foreground with dramatic geometric clarity, its gabled form rendered in richly saturated timber tones ranging from warm sienna to deep mahogany, the structural fram

Warm timber surfaces establish the material foundation of Tim Tan's Myriad Circles Residential Housing, where horizontal wood paneling in pale honey tones articulates a reception or lounge environment

Gold Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2026

Myriad Circles Residential Housing

by Xishun Tan

A' Design Award 2026 Gold Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
Awarded April 15, 2026
CLIENT: Vanke
Estimated Number of Design Views: 19,258
Verification code 8E21701F58 · Verify this award

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About Myriad Circles Residential Housing

Myriad Circles is a residential interior design completed in Sichuan, China. The layout is inspired by the Linpan settlements of Western Sichuan and their traditional Chuandou timber structures. Custom American walnut joinery reinterprets the interlocking and cantilever techniques of these structures. Concealed steel reinforcements inside the joinery support the weight of a collection of models. Stainless steel and glass are combined with the wood. Fixed walnut elements give the interior cultural depth, while flexible elements allow the space to serve changing uses.

Tim Tan's Myriad Circles Residential Housing presents a masterful synthesis of contemporary architectural ambition and enduring craft traditions, creating a reception space that functions simultaneously as threshold, sanctuary, and artistic statement. The design draws upon centuries of pavilion architecture from various traditions while articulating these influences through thoroughly modern material applications and spatial sensibilities. The soaring pitched timber ceiling, constructed of precisely milled horizontal battens supported by substantial post-and-beam framework, demonstrates exceptional joinery and an understanding of wood as both structural system and experiential element, the parallel members creating visual rhythm while their collective mass generates acoustic warmth. The central backlit onyx panel emerges as the spiritual heart of the composition, its geological veining suggesting both ancient natural processes and contemporary artistic curation, while the sculptural pine branches positioned before this luminous surface introduce organic asymmetry that prevents the bilateral symmetry from becoming static. The material palette reveals sophisticated understanding of chromatic and textural dialogue, with warm honey timbers conversing with cool charcoal marble, precious gold metallic accents punctuating the natural material predominance, and the translucent stone mediating between opacity and light. The clerestory skylights introduce temporal dimension, as shifting daylight conditions would continuously transform the shadow patterns across ceiling surfaces throughout daily cycles. This work invites consideration of how contemporary residential architecture might honor ceremonial and contemplative spatial traditions while serving practical hospitality functions. What does it mean to cross a threshold into such a space, and how might the material and spatial choices transform the experience of arrival?

Press Kit

Unique Properties: Echoing the structural elegance of "Linpan" architecture in Western Sichuan, China, this design distills traditional "Chuandou" timber systems into a contemporary narrative. Custom walnut joinery abstracts ancient cantilever techniques, creating a sculptural framework for the client’s "Retro-Futurist" collection. The space bridges eras, merging the precision of heritage carpentry with the playful spirit of the digital age to form a deeply personalized, culturally anchored sanctuary.
Tags: Retro-Futurism, Mid-Century Modern, Linpan Architecture, Residential Interior Design, Collector Workspace, Eclectic Luxury, Custom Joinery, Sichuan Vernacular, Chuandou Structure
Production Technology: To resurrect the essence of traditional "Linpan" settlements, we utilized contemporary fabrication techniques. The design synthesizes American Walnut—a nod to vernacular timber—with modern industrial materials like stainless steel and glass. By embedding concealed steel reinforcements within the joinery, we achieved the iconic "Chuandou" interlocking aesthetic without traditional limitations. This application of modern material science allows the ancient architectural form to be reborn within a "Retro-Futurist" context.
Design Challenge: The primary challenge lay in reconciling the solemnity of vernacular "Linpan" architecture with the vibrancy of a "Retro-Futurist" toy collection. Visually, preventing this eclectic mix from appearing chaotic required rigorous curation to balance historical weight with pop-culture playfulness. Structurally, mimicking the lightweight aesthetic of traditional "Chuandou" cantilevers while supporting heavy die-cast models imposed engineering constraints, necessitating a concealed steel skeleton within the walnut joinery.
Project Duration: The project started in April 2024 in China and finished in August 2025 in Sichuan China.
Operation Flow: The space guides visitors on a narrative journey, from the symbolic "Tree of Light" entrance into the intimate, wood-clad "Study Box." Interaction is encouraged through integrated zones where children's play is visible to adults, fostering natural community connection. Its strength lies in a "permanent-temporary" framework: the fixed walnut architecture provides cultural depth, while flexible elements allow the space to transform from a sales gallery into an active community hub. This creates not just a functional space, but one that actively builds and sustains relationships.
Research: This project is grounded in applied design research that decodes the vernacular "Linpan" settlements of Sichuan. We sought to translate their core principles of community, organic hierarchy, and material authenticity into a contemporary urban residence. Our methodology combined ethnographic field observation, spatial analysis of traditional "Chuandou" timber structures, and material prototyping. We engaged local craftsmen and used 3D scanning alongside digital and physical modeling to test modern interpretations of joinery. A key insight emerged: the "Chuandou" system functions as a "social scaffold," organizing life through a gradient of spaces from public to private. This research directly generated the project's central "permanent-temporary" framework. Its impact is threefold: it provides business value through deep cultural narrative, offers society a model for fostering neighborhood belonging in dense cities, and advances design practice by demonstrating a rigorous methodology for systemic vernacular translation, moving beyond superficial aesthetic reference.
Inspiration: A chance journey through Western Sichuan introduced me to the mesmerizing "Linpan" settlements. This experience deeply resonated with me, and by a stroke of serendipity, I was soon commissioned for this Chengdu residence. Inspired to bring this local spirit indoors, I reinterpreted the region's traditional "Chuandou" timber structures. The design translates these ancient interlocking techniques into modern walnut joinery, grounding the space in its cultural roots.
Image Credits: Photographer：Kong studio