Sheneve: A Unique Blend of Elegance and Innovation

Michelle Zhou's Award-Winning Design Transforms an Old Town Store into a Modern Masterpiece

Located in the old town of a city, Sheneve stands out with its distinctive facade made of reinforced concrete. Instead of integrating the building with a gentle approach, Zhou opted for a neutral heavy aluminum awning, processed into a light arc "floating" on the building's facade. This design choice expresses the unique elegance and tenderness of women in a neutral mood.

The inspiration for Sheneve came from a wedding dress called 'Adore', a transparent and slim dress with beautiful lace patterns. Zhou extracted the exclusive material and characteristics of this wedding dress and incorporated them into the design space. Using transparent materials, she created a low-cost but high-value commercial space that prioritizes environmental protection.

Sheneve's unique properties lie in its innovative use of materials and space. Translucent gradient perforated aluminum plates are used to make the heavy material appear lighter. Soft lace gauze curtains replace the original partition doors, dividing the space while adding flexibility. The light gray Malay paint gives the space a different texture at various illumination points.

The design process involved overcoming several challenges. The original structure of the old house had many pillars that divided the space and blocked areas in advance. The noisy surroundings and poor lighting conditions also posed significant challenges. However, Zhou managed to create a unique space within this specific environment by emptying the original redundant structure and introducing new design language and functions.

Sheneve covers a total of 400 square meters. The design project started in April 2019 in Wenzhou and was completed in October 2019. Zhou's design research focused on establishing a dialogue between the outdoor and indoor spaces. By breaking the original partition wall and introducing the extensible curve display, she achieved visual expansion and used various translucent materials to partition the area, ensuring functional independence and space sharing.

Sheneve is a testament to Zhou's creativity and innovation in interior design. It stands as an example of how traditional spaces can be transformed into modern, high-value commercial spaces through unique design approaches. The design's success is reflected in its recognition at the A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2021, where it was awarded Silver.