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Yalan Zheng's Painted Skin Tattoo Shop commands immediate visual authority through its masterful orchestration of dramatic chiaroscuro, deploying a sophisticated chromatic palette dominated by profoun
Yalan Zheng's Painted Skin Tattoo Shop presents a mesmerizing interior environment dominated by an all-encompassing pattern of undulating black and white stripes that flow continuously across every ar
Yalan Zheng's Painted Skin Tattoo Shop presents a pristine architectural interior dominated by a rigorous geometry of horizontal and vertical elements constructed through a sophisticated interplay of
An architectural grotto materializes through sculpted surfaces rendered in warm earth tones ranging from café au lait to pale ecru, establishing an organic spatial envelope that appears simultaneously
A dramatic interior composition unfolds through rich tonal contrasts and meticulous spatial layering, where deep charcoal surfaces dominate the architectural envelope, establishing a sophisticated low

Lan Design

Gold Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2020

Painted Skin Tattoo Shop

by Yalan Zheng

  • A' Design Award 2020 Gold Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
  • Awarded April 15, 2020
  • CLIENT: Lan Design
  • Estimated Number of Design Views: 16,954
  • Verification code 619EE9F679 · Verify this award
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About Painted Skin Tattoo Shop

Painted Skin is a tattoo shop interior covering 240 square meters in Chengdu. The design theme follows the purpose of the shop, and the decorative details share a common origin with tattoo culture. A curved and dimly lit corridor leads into the space, which is finished in a rich retro style. A skeleton chandelier, made by hand over six months, hangs from the ceiling. Carved wooden cabinets, screens and bar counters add a sense of luxury to the dark palette. Beside the neoclassical tattoo area, two themed guest rooms are provided, named Mirror Palace and Cave.

Painted Skin Tattoo Shop by Yalan Zheng represents a remarkable contribution to contemporary retail interior design that successfully bridges historical ornamental traditions with modern spatial programming and experiential design thinking. The space emerges from a sophisticated understanding of how classical European palatial architecture, with its emphasis on ceremonial procession, material richness, and hierarchical spatial organization, might be reinterpreted to elevate a contemporary commercial function. Zheng demonstrates exceptional facility in deploying the vocabulary of baroque and rococo decorative arts, from the elaborate ceiling medallions and fluted columns to the intricate gold filigree of the central reception station, while maintaining a distinctly contemporary sensibility through the restrained chromatic palette and precise geometric organization. The deliberate choice to render traditional ornamental elements in near-monochromatic charcoal creates a sophisticated dialogue between opulence and restraint, allowing the gold accents to achieve maximum visual impact while establishing an atmosphere of refined mystery appropriate to the transformative nature of the services offered within. The checkerboard floor pattern, a classical device for establishing perspectival depth and ceremonial gravitas, anchors the composition while the dramatic lighting design transforms the space into something approaching theatrical set design, inviting visitors to become participants in a carefully choreographed spatial narrative. One might observe how the design successfully resolves the tension between accessibility and exclusivity, creating an environment that feels simultaneously welcoming and rarified. How might this reimagining of historical architectural language inform our understanding of contemporary spaces where personal transformation occurs?

Press Kit

Unique Properties
The design theme of the whole tattoo shop is highly consistent with its the purpose, and its decorative metaphor and tattoo culture have the same origin. The dialogue between architecture and space has risen to artistic exploration and self-examination at the level of humanity. The rhythm of the whole space is simple, coordinated and complementary.
Dimensions & Packaging
The project covers a total of 240 square meters. In addition to tattoo area that continues the neoclassical dark style, there are also two Vip areas, the Mirror Palace and the Cave.
Tags
Interior, Commercial, Tattoo Shop, School, Neo Classical, Mermaid, Cave, Mirror Palace, Black
Production Technology
The elegant and gorgeous stage and Corinthian Roman column height restore the delicate, elegant and magnificent tone of Rococo period. Although the furniture style from Van Der Rohe is simple, it is well integrated into the background, without any abruptness.
Design Challenge
The skeleton chandelier, which lasted half a year and was made by hand, is watching the customers quietly on the ceiling. The wooded cabinets, screens and bars are decorated with a lot of carved patterns, which make the best of the craftsman's ability and infuse a trace of luxury into the dark style.
Project Duration
The project started in February 2018 in Chengdu and finished in July 2019 in Chengdu.
Operation Flow
In the shadow of the corner, a steel mermaid is half hanging in the air with its back to the wall. There is almost no light in the whole corridor, only a small point light source above the Mermaid Girl, which makes her shadow on the wall looks more lonely. The corridor is not long, but it is curved and mysterious.
Research
Tattoo originated from totem worship. In ancient China, there was a custom of "hairless tattoo" in Wuyue area. The patterns include ancestors, gods or totems. The cave theme room tells the world that tattoo is the earliest art form of human beings, do not look at it in color. In this cave that returns to ancient times, people need to look at this art with the same simple and clear eyes, let tattoos return to the origin, and express themselves with art.
Inspiration
Both old school and new school style tattoos come from the American understanding of traditional and totem symbols thousands of years ago. They are concise in color, vivid in expression and have their own cultural connotation. In order to fit the properties of the main items of the shop, and at the same time, highlight the continuity and compatibility of the new and old schools, the whole space is full of rich retro style.
Image Credits
Image #1: Photographer Xinghao Liu, Lobby, 2019.
Image #2: Photographer Xinghao Liu, Corridor, 2019.
Image #3: Photographer Xinghao Liu, VIP Room, 2019.
Image #4: Photographer Xinghao Liu, VIP Room 2, 2019.
Image #5: Photographer Xinghao Liu, VIP Room 3, 2019.
Patents
Copyrights belong to Yalan Zheng, 2019.

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Artistic Commercial Interior Design

We create dramatic, contemporary interior spaces that blend artistic expression with functional design. Our award-winning studio specializes in commercial, hospitality, and high-end residential projects, bringing Chinese philosophy and international design expertise to every space we transform.

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