Center Manor Sales Office: A Fusion of Tradition and Innovation

Jia Hongfeng's Award-Winning Design Blends Ancient Chinese Architecture with Modern Aesthetics

Center Manor Sales Office, designed by Jia Hongfeng, is a unique blend of traditional Chinese architecture and modern design elements. This 400-year-old house, now a sales office, has been transformed into an elegant space that pays homage to its historical roots while embracing contemporary aesthetics. The design has won the prestigious Platinum A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2019.

Jia Hongfeng drew inspiration from various elements of Chinese culture and landscape, including the Minjiang River, the Drum Mountain, the old town, the temple, the tea culture, and the movable-type printing. These inspirations are evident in the design, which incorporates elements of the natural landscape into the house, providing visitors with a unique cultural experience.

The Center Manor Sales Office stands out for its tranquility and gentleness. Its antique windows, doors, beams, and columns exude beauty and strength, silently reflecting its ancient context. The entrance of the house features a bronze double door, leading to a path paved with slates that imitate traditional Fuzhou lanes. Large glass walls along the path offer views of the interior wooden structure and the courtyard's graceful bamboos.

The space is decorated primarily in ink color, with accents of oriental red, bright yellow, dark blue, and pure white. Chinese-style furniture and delicate decorations, including tea sets, porcelain, jade pendants, copper wares, embroidered pillows, and flower receptacles, complement the architecture in both color and style. The design is a testament to the elegance of traditional Chinese style interpreted in a modern way.

Located adjacent to the famous Three Lanes and Seven Alleys and the ancient Kangshan Temple, the house features a traditional Chinese-style courtyard, Fuzhou-style architecture, and Suzhou-style landscape. The landscape materials, including bricks and tiles, mortise and tenon joints, rafters, and frames, are transported from Suzhou, evoking old memories and cultural confidence.

The main challenge faced by Jia Hongfeng was expressing respect for the traditional context of this rare house. To preserve the old structure and reproduce the elegance of traditional Chinese residences, the designer decorated the space with traditional Chinese elements, allowing visitors to experience the traditional oriental lifestyle. The result is a balance between historical tradition and modern life, achieved through following the cultural context and innovating beyond expectation.

In conclusion, the Center Manor Sales Office is a unique blend of tradition and innovation, a testament to Jia Hongfeng's ability to respect history while pushing the boundaries of design. This project serves as an example of how design can bridge the gap between the past and the present, creating spaces that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.


Project Details and Credits

Project Designers: Jia Hongfeng
Image Credits: Photography: Ao Xiang
Project Team Members: Jia Hongfeng
Project Name: Center Manor
Project Client: Jia Hongfeng


Center Manor IMG #2
Center Manor IMG #3
Center Manor IMG #4
Center Manor IMG #5
Center Manor IMG #5

Read More on Design Radiant