Project Information

Type:
Residential / Private Villa

Client:
Private

Location:
Hutong, Beijing, China

Year:
2020

A house of art and old world glamour

The House on Emerald Hill is a beautiful interior project that engages a dialogue between art, lifestyle, and furniture. The heritage exteriors were retained and modifications were only made in the interiors. The clients did not stay in this house, but rather it was a space where they could appreciate their art and hobby collections - and it was also a secret hideaway they could visit when they were in town.

The house has the typical structure of a shophouse where it is longer more than it is wide, and thus sees less natural daylight in the middle of the home. A skylight brings in natrual light, but we intentionally illuminiated specific parts of the house, especially the pieces of artwork to tell a story of grandeur.

Lighting design and dark finishings helped create a sense of drama and old world glamour, much like the time period these homes were first built in the early 20th century.

The spaces within the house were segregated into different sections for different functions (made for the previous house). But the journey into the depth of the house was recreated to be more cohesive so that the experience would be similar to that of Hansel and Gretel walking through the forest - each space is tempting enough to pause in, and each step taken would be enjoyable, from the public to private parts of the house.