work state: BUILT 建成

“CISHAN” is a catering company that possesses several catering brands. The office is located on the top floor of a building in a business park near Xixi Wetland. The company prides itself on a low-key, restrained, serene and rational atmosphere. We hope that in the design, the brand ethos and design concept can be subtly reflected  thoughtful material selection, strategic spatial layouts, the interplay of solid and void spaces, seamless indoor-outdoor transitions, the integration of natural landscapes, and the display of antique furniture.

Work is a part of life. In contemporary workspaces, the warmth and homely ambiance are crucial elements that cannot be overlooked. Therefore, beyond the conventional office space design, we integrate diversified spaces to meet different demands, partially domesticize the office space, and make the environment for daily work more comfortable and pleasant. The space circulations are divided into dynamic and static to respectively corresponding to the usage paths for public communication and internal office work.

The original building layout features a square and regular column grid structure. We aimed to create an open office environment that seamlessly integrates with the external environment, blending indoor spaces with outdoor nature while maintaining areas of privacy.The overall spatial structure adopts a combination of solid and void.We enclosed a relatively “solid” central island area in the center of the column grid to accommodate small conference rooms, open kitchens, and photocopying storage functions. This multi-functional central island serves as a transition between public and private spaces, separating the public area for reception and communication from the relatively private and quiet office area. The columns are partially exposed, softening the sense of enclosed volume of the central island and allowing the space to flow.

Next to the physical central island is a landscape void space to supplement the lighting, serving as another core element in the office. We hope to create a natural place for the enclosed indoor office space to connect with the outdoors. Utilizing the top-floor advantage, we partially renovated the building to design a sunken courtyard, introducing a skylight that connects the indoor space with the rooftop terrace. The courtyard features varying tree pits to accommodate different plant root systems, enriching the landscape. No matter from the “living room” reception area at the entrance of the elevator hall, through the open kitchen, or from the internal open office area and the aisle leading to the bathroom, you can see this opposite courtyard, and feel the outdoor atmosphere from the interior. The outdoor landscape and the indoor space are both independent yet intricately connected.

This natural area serves multiple functions, including providing views, lighting, partitioning, and spatial transitions, while also connecting the open office space and the meeting room.To access the meeting room, one must pass through the courtyard via a transitional gray space corridor, offering a unique experience of moving from indoors to outdoors and back. The wall design of the patio is ingenious in its extension to the roof terrace, which not only connects the upper and lower space, but also leaves a courtyard landscape frame scene for the reception room, retaining the privacy. The internal company stairs lead to the rooftop terrace, a completely outdoor space. Instead of using ready-made outdoor furniture, we custom-cast concrete into a fireplace, low tables, seats, and tree pits, backed by steel plate retaining walls and embellished with greenery, creating a multifunctional outdoor area suitable for both relaxation and work-related gatherings.

The entire office space employs a ceiling-free design, exposing the original beam structure, with spotlights providing precise lighting where needed. The pendant lights in the open office area offer both upward and downward illumination, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The indoor materials are simple and restrained, primarily using wood, artistic paint, and self-leveling cement. The public area’s open kitchen and tea space are wrapped in black wood panels, with black-framed glass facing the open office space. The same wood panel material is used to enclose the pipe shaft opposite the island, creating a semi-enclosed long bench space where people can rest, converse, and interact with the open kitchen. The window-side cabinets in the open office area also use black wood panels, integrated with office furniture, establishing a calm and restrained dialogue between different materials.)

Soft elements in the space come from the owner’s beloved antique furniture collection. The small stool and coffee table in the reception area, the tea table and chairs in the meeting room, the side table next to the light well corridor, and a Ming chair and a set of Chinese medicine drawers at the end of the open office area all subtly balance the office’s rational and rigid elements. Here, the combination of office space and old furniture creates a Zen-like atmosphere, serene with a touch of warmth. Extending the company’s brand ethos, the western restaurant “Shy table” is located on the ground floor of the building. From the top-floor office to the ground-floor restaurant, the design consistently conveys the brand’s restrained and serene image and character, from the overall concept to the finest details.

The Valle d’Itria in Puglia, Italy, is home to the iconic Trullo architecture—distinctive conical structures unique to the southern Murgia region. Spotting these structures instantly signals your arrival in Puglia. Trulli have existed for hundreds of years, though the oldest surviving examples date back only to the 16th century. This is likely because Trulli were typically built as temporary dry-stone dwellings, designed to be dismantled whenever necessary. This practice was primarily a way to avoid property taxes—imagine tax collectors arriving in Locorotondo, Alberobello, or Fasano only to find piles of stones instead of houses. Once the inspectors left, the Trulli were swiftly rebuilt, and the locals moved back in.

A typical Trullo has a cylindrical base topped with a conical roof made of limestone tiles. Despite the absence of cement, the thick white-painted stone walls provided cool interiors during summer and warmth in winter. The roofs were often adorned with protective symbols like the evil eye, crosses, or astronomical signs, capped with ornamental flourishes. The Trulli of Alberobello, recognized for their unique architectural features and historical significance, have been designated as one of Puglia’s two UNESCO World Heritage Sites and are well worth visiting.

While many Trulli are still inhabited by locals, a growing number have been transformed into luxurious holiday homes, often featuring swimming pools, making them a popular trend in recent years.

The Studio BAHAN design team collaborated with local Trullo master craftsman Cosimo to create a vacation home for the Franco family, blending historical essence with modern design. Situated in the Valle d’Itria, this Trullo represents the rich traditional structure and profound historical charm that have made Trulli an emblem of the Puglia region. However, the project was not without its challenges, as bridging the gap between traditional craftsmanship and modern design proved complex.

Cosimo’s construction methods were deeply rooted in tradition. He was well-versed in every step of the Trullo-building process but struggled to interpret modern architectural drawings. His approach relied on intuition and hands-on experience rather than the precise coordinates and annotations provided in contemporary plans. This disconnect initially stalled the project, as Cosimo was unable to align his work with the design team’s vision.

To overcome this hurdle, the BAHAN team explored various methods to establish effective communication and guidance. After prolonged adjustments and compromises, they devised an innovative solution: the designers worked directly on-site, using colored spray paint to mark specific construction points on walls and floors. This visual and intuitive method enabled Cosimo and his team to execute the design accurately without relying on conventional blueprints. Moreover, the designers patiently explained the concepts and ideas behind the design, helping Cosimo gradually integrate modern elements into his traditional craft.

During the construction process, the BAHAN team paid meticulous attention to highlighting the spatial experience of the conical roof and refining interior layouts. This approach preserved the historical characteristics of the Trullo while introducing modern comforts and aesthetics. Ultimately, the project resulted in a Trullo that retained its thick white stone walls and iconic roof while embracing the conveniences and beauty of contemporary living, breathing new life into this historic structure.

This collaboration not only marked a productive partnership between the BAHAN team and local artisans but also initiated a profound dialogue between tradition and modernity. The project demonstrates how historical architecture can be reimagined to meet the needs of modern life, creating exciting new possibilities for heritage preservation.

意大利普利亚的伊特里亚谷地（Valle d’Itria）标志性的Trullo建筑，是南部Murgia地区特有的圆锥形建筑，一看到它们，就知道来到了普利亚。Trulli建筑已有数百年历史，但现存最古老的Trulli仅追溯到16世纪。这可能是因为Trulli通常作为临时的干砌石住所建造，可以随时拆除。这种做法主要是为了应对税务官的到来, 试想，当税务官到Locorotondo、Alberobello或Fasano时，看到的只是石堆而没有房屋的情景。等检查官走了之后，Trulli又会迅速重建，当地人便重新搬回居住。
典型的Trullo建筑有一个圆柱形的基座和覆盖石灰岩瓦片的圆锥形屋顶。虽然没有使用水泥，但厚重的白色石墙在夏季保持凉爽，在冬季保暖。屋顶上通常会绘制防邪眼、十字或星象符号，并装饰有顶部饰物。Alberobello的Trulli因其独特的建筑特点和历史意义而被列入普利亚的两处联合国教科文组织世界遗产之一，非常值得一游。
虽然许多Trulli仍由当地人居住，但也有不少被改造成配有泳池的高档度假屋，成为近些年的新浪潮。
八荒设计团队与当地的Trullo石匠大师Cosimo合作，为Franco家族打造了一座将历史与现代设计完美融合的度假屋。这座Trullo建筑位于意大利普利亚的伊特里亚谷地，其传统结构和深厚的历史韵味使其成为普利亚地区的象征性建筑。然而，这一项目并非易事，八荒团队在与Cosimo的合作过程中遇到了重重挑战。

Cosimo的施工方式非常传统，熟悉每一步Trullo的工艺流程，但无法理解现代建筑图纸，导致设计与施工之间难以匹配。对于Cosimo来说，他习惯了用直观的方式建造Trullo，依赖经验和手感，而不是现代图纸中精确的坐标和标注。这种差异导致他无法根据八荒团队的设计定位准确施工，项目进展一度停滞不前。

为了弥合这一差距，八荒团队进行了多次尝试，探索有效的沟通和指导方式。经过长时间的磨合，他们最终找到了创新的解决方案：设计师亲临现场，利用彩色喷雾在墙面和地面上标记施工点，直观地将设计意图传达给Cosimo和他的团队。这样，Cosimo可以根据标记进行精确施工，而无需依赖图纸理解细节。此外，设计师还耐心地解释了设计背后的理念，帮助Cosimo逐步理解现代设计的元素，并在传统技艺中融入这些新元素。

在施工过程中，八荒团队还细致地突出圆锥屋顶的空间体验以及内部布局等细节，以保持Trullo的历史特色，同时满足现代舒适生活的需求。最终，这座Trullo在保留厚重的白色石墙和锥形屋顶的同时，融入了现代生活方式的便利与美感，焕发出新的生命力。通过这次项目，八荒团队与当地工匠之间不仅完成了一次富有成效的合作，更开启了一段传统与现代深度对话的故事，展现了历史建筑在现代生活中的新可能。

CLOUD HOTEL RENOVATION PROJECT
— Lost in the mountain clouds, nestled in the forest

Nestled in the mountains of Moganshan, Cloud Hotel sits serenely in a bamboo forest in Deqing County, a popular retreat destination 200km away from Shanghai. The original building had three levels built along the mountain slope and carried features inspired by European castles. STUDIO8 was commissioned to renovate the architecture and interiors and redesign the visual identity.

In the renovation process, STUDIO8 aimed to best utilize the natural slope formed by the landscape, while taking full advantage of the spectacular mountain views. The designers were also faced with a challenge to create a dynamic integration of the spatial experience and the “Cloud” brand image, and to infuse it into all design decisions. “Architecture built in nature functions as the media in between humans and nature; it should blend into the landscape organically, instead of just being in it,” says the studio principal.

The original building had guest rooms on the first and second floors; a lightweight extension with arched glazings had been added on top to serve as the dining space. While the architecture lacked a coherent hierarchy and style, it did have a feature that served the renovation well – it was not built directly against the mountain, providing much more room and potential for the extension. Rather than stacking upwards, STUDIO8 decided to bring life to the underused belowground levels, adding more layers into the space without increasing the height of the building or creating additional impact to the environment.

The new hotel has a total of five levels terraced alongside the mountain slope. Entering from the west corner of the premises, guests pass through the garden and arrive at the reception, a glass room enclosed by large glazings. On one side of the reception is the wine cellar and the private dining room, linked by a sunken garden designed to provide more natural light and better views; on the other side lies the steel staircase, leading to the swimming pool and the restaurant on the second level.

To achieve a consistent brand image, STUDIO8 carefully curated the interior and visual identity design of the hotel to match well with the “Cloud” concept. The ubiquitous presence of curve and arch elements akin to clouds can be seen throughout the space – the ceiling, the spiral staircase, and the openings in various expressions. All guest rooms have a white arched terrace that overlooks the swimming pool and provides a panoramic view of the valleys and gentle hills beyond, conveying a feeling of “walking in the clouds”.

Pure white finishes give a clean background to the interiors of the restaurant, while the bronze accent found in the tables and lighting adds a warm, earthy tone. The dining area boasts a cloud-like fluctuating ceiling that also hides the light strips and air vents in between the gaps. A one-off vintage cabinet from Belgium – the focal point of the dining space – is set against the whitewashed wall. The restaurant also features customized circular dining tables made of wood, local granite and rufous lacquered stone.

To avoid cliché and excessive ornaments, the interior settings are kept to a minimum for a bright and airy feel. Guest rooms have a subdued aesthetic. In the largest suite, a bespoke laurel green headboard hangs from a brass rod, echoing the green-hued Persian carpet and green walls in the bathroom. The curve element appears not only in the spiral stair but also in the bathroom partition walls. Gentle curves soften the room’s layout, re-emphasizing the light and airy feeling of the “Cloud”.

Cloud Hotel isn’t the first hotel in Mogan Mountain that STUDIO8 has worked on – back in 2017, it completed the architecture, interior and visual identity design of Anadu, another luxury resort in the same region. Both being a covetable getaway for people to jump out of the city and have a moment of peace, Anadu, built from the ground up, boasts a meditative, solitary experience which connects to the nature; while Cloud Hotel transformed the originally ponderous building into a poetic and ethereal presence by blending it into the landscape in a rather spontaneous manner.

云顶堡酒店改造项目

——云深不知处，只在此山中

坐标德清县莫干山镇庙前村干庙坞1号。改造前的云顶堡是一幢略带城堡元素的度假酒店。虽名“云顶”又依山而建，但这座建筑却并丰在山顶之上，而是在竹林之间。

八荒设计拿到项目后第一个考虑的问题，就是如何在有限的占地面积中，最大程度地利用山地特有的高差优势对建筑进行改造。同时，也面临着另一挑战——如何将云顶堡的品牌概念与人的空间体验更有机地结合, 提升人、建筑和自然的融合。八荒设计师认为自然景观中的建筑，作为连接人与自然的媒介，应该真正与自然融为一体，而不是仅仅简单地存在于其中。

改造前的酒店是一栋半山坡的三层建筑，一楼二楼设为客房，顶楼加盖了以玻璃立面为主的轻质结构，作为餐厅。原建筑层次单一，加盖的顶层结构也与另外两层风格截然不同。但有趣的是，不同于传统的欧式城堡，原建筑几乎是依山挑空而建，这给未来扩建和空间层次衍生带来了很多可能性。因此，八荒设计决定采用不同于常规的方式，不向上扩建，而是充分利用山地地形，沿山势向下扩建两层。这样，在不增加建筑高度的基础上，将原本的三层扩成五层，把建筑改造成更具空间感的多层次结构，同时控制了改造对环境的冲击。

建筑的五个楼层倚靠山势，并不垂直重叠，以退台的形式分布。入口在最低点的盘山路边，穿过花园便是玻璃结构的前台。前台玻璃房的后面是VIP餐厅包房和酒窖，考虑到采光及景观，设计师在此处设计了一个下沉式小花园，将包房和酒窖连接。前台另一侧是钢结构楼梯，通往二层的泳池平台和餐厅。餐厅面对泳池，阳光透过微波粼粼的泳池折射到餐厅，让宾客在用餐的同时感受到户外的生机。

完成了对建筑的结构改造后，八荒设计就开始了对云顶堡室内空间和品牌形象的设计。大到楼梯、小到桌椅，都采用了定制设计，努力营造一个简约优雅的世外“城堡”。设计师将云的概念融入到各种设计的细节之中，酒店内处处可见。餐厅天花板吊顶、套房旋转楼梯和窗户开口处都巧妙地运用了拟云状弧形和拱形元素。顶层套房里的白色旋转楼梯根据云的模样构思，从下向上看，仿佛一朵云彩悬浮在房间中。房间的窗户上方与阳台门顶的半圆设计亦是采用了云朵的形象，不仅将室内外连接，更让宾客有住在云端的感觉。

纯白的饰面给予餐厅一个干净的背景，餐厅原木色的桌椅有着树木的纹路, 与自然景色相呼应，让人拥抱自然、回归自然,、融入自然。就餐区云朵般起伏的吊顶，同时也把光带、空调出风口巧妙的隐藏于云朵的缝隙中。设计师从家具厂仓库淘来的独一无二的自比利古董餐柜依靠着就餐区的白墙，不动声色的吸引着所有目光。为了与其独特性相得益彰，圆形餐桌也采用专属定制，以当地木材、花岗岩和锈蚀漆石制成，配合了整个项目的几何线条及材质风格。

摒弃一般度假村老套或过度的装饰风格，八荒设计选用简约大方的家具、配件和设施，营造出了明亮轩敞的宜居空间。客房的色调趋于柔和，每个房间被赋予不同的颜色主题。最大的套房里，定做的月桂绿皮质床头与绿调的波斯地毯和卫生间的绿漆相呼应。弧形元素不仅存在于旋转楼梯中，也体现在了卫生间隔断墙的设计里。温柔的曲线来中和房间的方正格局，再点“云顶”主题。

云顶堡是八荒设计继2017年完工的集建筑、室内、品牌形象设计于一体的庄园酒店Anadu后的第二家轻奢精品度假酒店。两者皆作为让人垂涎的餐松饮涧之地，同新建建筑Anadu在自然中宁静悠远，沉心独立不同的是，作为建筑改造项目，云顶堡酒店无论从空间层次，还是设计风格，都从原建筑的单调、繁琐，以云朵的随机性连接空间，变得层次丰富优雅飘逸，并融于自然。