Commissioned to design a retail and exhibition space in a newly opened commercial centre in Hangzhou for JIA Garden, a brand specializing in hand-crafted objects, Chinese interior design practice Mountain Soil drew inspiration from the brand’s name approaching the projects as much from an interior design aspect as from a landscaping perspective. Don’t expect any greenery though; the designers have opted instead for a rugged, sparse landscape swathed in muted cream, grey and beige hues, punctured by concrete and stone.
The ascetic interior straddles artifice and nature thanks to a mix of natural and man-made materials. An organic design language of curved shapes and rounded volumes paired with the building’s exposed concrete skeleton further blurs the boundaries between the natural and the artificial. The result is a soothing, peaceful environment that nevertheless conveys a sense of wonder and discovery, elevating the mundane into the remarkable in reflection of the artisanship behind the clay and stone-crafted objects on display.