JZ Club: A Jazz Bar with a Touch of Old Shanghai

Chikara Sasaki and Aky N's Award-Winning Design Merges Jazz and Chinese Culture

The JZ Club, located at Found 158 in Shanghai, is one of the most well-known jazz clubs in China. After a 12-year run on Fuxing Lu, the club moved to its new location in 2016, marking a new chapter in its history. The designers were tasked with preserving the original atmosphere of the JZ Club while introducing a new, unique ambiance.

Chikara Sasaki and Aky N drew their inspiration from the story of old Shanghai, using crimson as a symbol of China. The jazz music, the mood of old Shanghai, and the color crimson come together to create an atmosphere of mystery. The grey brick backdrop, red Italian stucco walls, and art deco lamps create a space that is both mysterious and intimate.

The design process, which began in April 2016 and was completed in September of the same year, was not without its challenges. The biggest challenge was to maintain the original atmosphere of the JZ Club while creating a new, unique ambiance. The design team aimed to elevate the club's characteristic ambiance and the exciting experience of enjoying jazz music.

The JZ Club covers a total useful floor area of around 500 square meters, including a 27 square meter kitchen, and has a ceiling height of 4.56 meters under the slab. The club's design features are highlighted by old Shanghai accents sprinkled throughout the space, creating a mysterious yet intimate place for all.

Chikara Sasaki and Aky N's design for the JZ Club has been recognized with the Silver A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2018. This award is given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. The JZ Club's design, with its strong technical characteristics and splendid artistic skill, showcases a remarkable level of excellence and introduces positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.