Xiamen Shophouse Commune / Chinese Mainland
SANJ DESIGN STUDIO / Chinese Mainland
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DFA Design for Asia Awards 2025 l Silver Award l Spatial Design l Workspaces
Layers of Time
Within a restored shophouse in old Xiamen, history and modern life quietly intertwine. The preserved façade and exposed red-brick walls anchor the space in its century-old past, while natural skylight filters through newly opened voids, softening the rhythm between old and new. The first floor unfolds as an open café that extends into the street arcade; above, flexible rooms host exhibitions and gatherings, divided by pivot doors that merge or separate with ease. The third-floor studio overlooks tiled roofs and narrow lanes, reconnecting design practice with lived heritage. Traditional Minnan materials—stone, brick, timber—lend warmth to a place reborn through restraint.
