A Shanghai Flat That Takes Its Cues From 2001: A Space Odyssey
Adda Space Architecture has designed a home with a playful, retro-futuristic allure, tailored to the lifestyle of a couple and their four pets
In a tranquil Shanghai suburb, Cheng Tang and Quan Zhou of Nanjing-based Adda Space Architecture encountered a brief that played to their preference for working outside convention: the redesign of a 70-square-metre apartment for a dual-career couple with full schedules, their greyhound Jojo and three cats. The scope prioritised spatial clarity and authenticity over overt status symbols, while still seeking a degree of camera-ready polish. ‘There wasn’t a need to design for immediate family expansion, child safety or multigenerational living. This gave us much more freedom to focus on their social hobbies, work-from-home needs and social life over a conventional layout,’ says Tang.
The project pares back the original two-bedroom plan, removing unnecessary partitions to open up a continuous flow between the foyer, living room, bathroom and kitchen. Here, the sink is folded into a dining island with high stools, making more efficient use of the footprint. Next to it, a built-in vanity sits just beyond the wet zone, maintaining a clear flow while ensuring the bathroom door doesn’t directly face the entry, in line with feng shui principles. The bedroom, living area and laundry occupy three corners, establishing separation and privacy. The fourth is Jojo’s room, a glass-enclosed volume converted from the former balcony that brings in plenty of natural light. ‘We opted to fully integrate it into the floor-plan rather than treat it as an improvised corner,’ says Tang, noting that the cats need not be jealous; they have their own dedicated climbing structures. The pets, then, informed the spatial logic as much as their owners, and the free-flowing plan also makes life easier for the resident robot cleaner.
A functional foyer accommodates coats and shoe changing beneath a backlit grid ceiling. ‘We drew on visions of future living from the 1950s to 1970s, taking cues from 2001: A Space Odyssey,’ explains Tang. Further details — portal-like thresholds, porthole mirrors and circular apertures — deepen the lexicon. Walls carry a mix of colours and textures, offset by stainless steel shelving. Underfoot, terrazzo tiles and marble mosaic set the tone, while Rojo Alicante and Rosso Levanto marble define the kitchen island and vanity, respectively. The guiding principles for materials were durability, scratch resistance and ease of maintenance. ‘In a way, the pets helped us to create a more aesthetic interior,’ Tang quips. Paired with marble, cabinetry in burl veneer introduces an extra note of old-world charm, aligning with one owner’s preferences.
Zhou and Tang held back bold gestures in the decor, allowing the couple’s own pieces to define the interior. ‘They have a wide range of hobbies, from mountain climbing and surfing to painting and photography, so we didn’t need to buy much,’ notes Tang. Still, a handful of playful interventions are threaded through the scheme, including a rocking horse sourced from an antique shop, non-functional wayfinding signs and a light box bearing Jojo’s name above her room. For Tang, this project and its distinct style reflect a rising mindset in China: ‘People are no longer interested in traditional layouts, fixed styles or symbols of status,’ he says. ‘They prefer function and comfort, and want their home to be a unique space that truly belongs to them.’
Text by Tomás Pinheiro
Images by Hao Zheng
