Hangzhou Vanke Junxi Club, China by WE DESIGN

Art bridges the spirit of space,

Unlike the set limits of addition and subtraction,

Sometimes by deconstructing

To achieve counter-deconstruction.

——Simon, Art Consultant

The Liangzhu civilization, which began in the Chalcolithic Period, flourished and left behind a legend to be admired and studied. Chinese civilization has left its mark on this land: folk culture, art and nature grow here, which form the inexhaustible local heritage. It is an ultimate happiness when wandering freely between the landscapes.

The Junxi Club is a model for the interpretation of nature and life with the cultural heritage of Liangzhu civilization, and is evolving the millennial cultural heritage of Liangzhu. We Design, which condenses spiritual power through art, acted as the artistic consultant for the West County Club in this case, using professional furnishing aesthetics and pioneering deconstruction techniques to sublimate the spirit of artistic creation.

From the spirit of "unity of heaven and humanity” of the Liangzhu culture to the thought of Zhuangzi (a philosopher and representative of Taoism during the Warring States period in c. 369 BC - c. 286 BC) , Simon translates "peace" into the spirit of space, allowing people to live in the house with a heartfelt joy. "In the end, 'peace' is a state of freedom of mind and body, and we hope to use the power of art as a yardstick to demonstrate aspirational living in a combination of reality and imagination that resonates with the heart."

The sculpture looks like waves from a distance, but when you gaze at it, it looks like a fish or a bird...... The designer uses the artwork to punctuate and reshape the natural object, adding a spiritual dimension to the symbolism, giving the object a broad character and vitality. Framed by the wild force of natural gestures, the work is balanced in movement and stillness.

Carefree is not only the freedom of the individual, but the inclusiveness of all things. In the reception area, guests are treated with courtesy, and the spirit of carefree is made tangible as they feel that the landscape surrounds them. The art of carefree takes one to the nature of the modern East - and the landscape dwellers are free to discover as much as they like.

"The interweaving of tradition and trend, fun and civilization will make the space vibrant, innovative and interesting" In reflecting on how Zhuangzi's thought relates to space, We Design introduces “The Hipster's Banquet”, a collaboration created by artist Digiway and Rong Baozhai Studio.

The free-spirited, mingling feast in the painting becomes the artistic blueprint for this spot. A surreal banquet that breaks through the geographical limits of time and space opens up a realm of ' Utmost Happiness' between the negotiation area and the tea and wine counter.

A fascinating life in Hangzhou is often accompanied by tea and wine. Tea and wine symbolize understatement and bravado, out of and into the world. Art consultant Simon focuses on the emotional connection between space and people, allowing for a deeper understanding of things and pure pleasure

This place values the experience of "coming for pleasure and returning with contentment". The integrated leisure space is relaxed, elegant and trendy, where guests can enjoy the beauty of Mingyu Lake while having fun with music, sips of wine and tea.

Thus, a blend of retro and futurism emerges here, where history is derived from the picturesque into the modern world. One is at ease in it, immersed in a hedonistic fusion of art, food and nature.

The new-style calligraphy 'Happiness' responds to the scene with a spirited gesture and majestic imagery. The rich imagery and open-mindedness are consistent with the atmosphere, and the designer celebrates the simplicity with modern design language.

As guests enter the VIP and audio-visual rooms and experience the creative expression of 'The Floods of Autumn', they will be in the state of mind of 'Joy of Fish'. The conversation between Beihai Ruo and Hebe goes back to the basics, and art consultant Simon grabs concepts from Chinese fable to verify the possibility of relative art and absolute life.

With a visionary view of the changing world, one can feel the collision of macro and micro in Simon’s expression, and the taste of a river of autumn water.

‘Feathers’ uses modern techniques to express the structures involved in traditional art. The figurative images reveal the spirit of abstraction, where Eastern cultural connotations and Western techniques merge.

On the negative floor, the theme is " Discussion of the Equality of Things", and with soft music and the fragrance of sandalwood, people can feel the vast realm of life in a comfortable and relaxing way, as if " the unity of Heaven and Humanity".

Art is at the heart of vision and thought, and Simon has created an intriguing gallery-like space through the paintings and sculptures of artists. The life source of artistic creativity can be seen in the paintings, with the illusory 'Feathers' and the archaic 'Message of Happiness' complementing each other in the space, where guests relax and lounge.

Reality and absurdity are not contradictory, "I do not distinguish between reality and imagination, past and present, East and West, art and the everyday. All history and art originate from daily life."

Whether host or guest, inside or outside, ancient or modern. For Simon, art is free to dialogue with tradition and trends, in the interstices between material and immaterial progress, past and future, thus reaching beyond the realm of fun.

The sense of smell guides guests through the feast, immersing them in a hedonistic romp of art, food and music, where the spiritual and spatial connection is reshaped beyond the senses and the metaphysical.

Amid the natural beauty, the confidants sip tea and discuss the past and present, which is a feast of meeting. Simon creates the dialogue between people and cuisine, culture and space, not just a taste of the tongue, but also a presentation of the life aesthetics, which is free and uninhibited like Zhuangzi dreaming a butterfly.

In the Junxi Club, art is the medium of spiritual life, we can see hope through its surface and within. Just as We Design gives the space the freedom of art, the story of the scene is written without limits, highlighting the richness of the past and present. Creating an urban living room in a natural way, it is ultimately a place of relaxation and spirituality, where people can live and work in a relaxed manner.

Project information:

Project Name: Hangzhou Vanke Junxi Club, China

Location: Hangzhou, China

Design area: 1070 sq.m

Design date: June 2021

Completion date: December 2021

Artistic Consultant: WE DESIGN

Soft furnishing design and implementation: WE DESIGN

Soft furnishing team: Simon Cheng, Weilun Mo, Yuqin He, Xiafeng Liu, Yuancheng Liu

Hard Furnishings Design: LWM Architects + Shanghai Yuejie Architectural Consulting Co.

Photo by: Yan Ming Studio

Interview:

Q: How do you understand "Peace"?

Simon: for many artists, “Peace” is pleasure, this pleasant and simple beauty has led to the "Matisse of the East" Sanyu; "Peace" is a kind of ease, and Picasso painted countless evocative faces in this state. In such a state, Picasso painted countless evocative faces; 'Peace' is also power, surging in calmness and abundance in white space, and it is in this power that Zhao Wuji created his priceless works.

Q: How do you interpret Peace-Lounge?

Simon: It is casual, relaxed and free, like Zhuangzi's "The Unity of Heaven and Humanity ".

Q: How do you use art and soft furnishings to dialogue with space?

Simon: Art is not just a luxury, as Ang Lee said, it is about being immersed in it and seeing the inner self. As a consciousness, art helps us to pursue the beauty of the spirit; it is not just a luxury, nor is it an embellishment, art is not limited to appreciation but lies in seeing the inner self. By building a space rich in culture and art, we find ourselves in abundance and a connection with each other. Everyone can appreciate art differently; children see the innocence, trendsetters see the future of art and for those who live here, they arrive at the depth and vastness in the midst of nature.

Q: How do you achieve 'peace' in your work ?

Simon: We have incorporated “The Hipster's Banquet” out as well as many authentic pieces. The artworks include masterpieces by top masters as well as pioneering contemporary artists. Art is used as a link to inspire aesthetic expression and convey the spirit of this era. Jump on the bandwagon is not real trend, artworks created through independent thought will make one think about the meaning of life and be touched by it. In this scene, the free and easy wandering in Liangzhu, symbolizing the unity of heaven and humanity, painting and architecture all blending into the environment, everything becoming part of nature and finding inner peace and purity in it, people can find inner peace and purity here.

Q: What are your considerations when choosing artworks?

Simon: When choosing artworks, we actually have two lines, one is the "state line", which is the state of "peace", the ideal state of life for the owner; the other line is the 'story line', and we have chosen Zhuangzi, a kind of out-of-this-world and free attitude to life. The core of Zhuangzi's ideology is 'the unity of heaven and humanity', which is in line with the core of Liangzhu culture, where our project is located.