Shanghai Nights

Hong Kong architect Joyce Wang explores the use of metals in this three story Shanghai Penthouse in the heart of the Xintiandi district. This exploration centred around three types: sheet metal, weathered metal and metal cabling and how these typically industrial materials can exist in a luxurious interior space

Wang created a curved staircase up to the roof of the penthouse out of bent sheet metal and lined the living room walls with thin slats of Corten steel.

Metal cabling has been woven between the balustrade and the baseline of the apartment’s central staircase to create a screened-off dining area. The design of the staircase according to Wang references where the client made their fortune. Looking inside to the construction and mechanics of motorisation informed the weaving of the steel cable to create the dynamic form.

The industrial nature of the materials used, the client’s history in manufacturing and China’s own identity as the world’s manufacturer makes this project very Chinese in a sense, but despite this, she has injected some femininity through form bringing balance to the hard edged materiality.

Story by Nic-Kaiko Follow him on Instagram kaiko_design