Shanghai Private Residence of Kinkon

During his studies in Japan, Kinkon, a Shanghai-based stylist, likely encountered such window views: light gliding gently over Japanese gardens, casting soft, warm shadows upon paper screens.
Having navigated the fashion industry for years, interacting with top-tier artists and brands, he has witnessed countless trend cycles and diverse personalities. Paradoxically, this exposure fostered a longing for simplicity—not merely stylistic minimalism, but a simplification of life itself. He subsequently engaged Yuchuan, hoping to restore his home to its most essential state.Thus commenced this specific practice by Yuchuan Design.
Kinkon is an avid sports enthusiast and collector; his rooms are filled with artifacts gathered from around the globe—African wood carvings, European vintage furniture, and Japanese ceramics. Such a richly layered individual requires a home of sufficient inclusivity.
We eliminated the traditional balcony to incorporate the window view directly into the interior. This was not pursued for the sake of expansiveness, but to provide this freelancer with a workspace enveloped by sunlight and greenery.
The double-hung windows of the old villa retain their traditional operation method, framing the Shanghai city skyline beyond. This approach mirrors the concept of "Liubai" (negative space) in Eastern painting—not an absence of content, but a point where the composition is already complete.
In the dining area, an entire wall was removed to create a social-centric island space.Every object on the dining table originates from his journeys; while they make no deliberate statement, they imbue the space with narrative depth.The kitchen walls feature a distressed texture, creating a striking contrast with the modern metallic cabinetry—here, the new and the old, the refined and the rustic, find their respective balance.
The most captivating space is the guest bedroom. Bringing memories of his Japanese sojourn into his daily life, we installed pivot doors without frames and fixed windows to curate a window view reminiscent of Eastern negative space. This is where the client reclines on tatami mats to bask in the afternoon sun.
The charm of this home lies not in the extent of design intervention, but in the art of emptiness, allowing the client to craft his own story.