Timeless Artistry: Michael Lam's "Surely" Redefines Space

Exploring the Intersection of Art, Retail, and Photography in a Unique Interior Space

Michael Lam's design inspiration for "Surely" stemmed from the desire to create a unique space experience. The building retains the mottled and contiguous texture of the wall, transforming into the uniform skin texture of the indoor space. This transformation creates a surprising contrast with the outdoor environment, offering viewers a unique spatial experience. The design intentionally abandons excessive hard decoration, opting instead for high-quality soft displays that contrast with the original space's base.

What sets "Surely" apart is its unique approach to time. In the midst of the chaotic and decaying old factory, the design uses a sense of dislocation in time to create a gap between the inside and the outside, between the object and the space. This approach provides a deeper and more meaningful place experience for viewers. The design's main materials include special paint, terrazzo, original solid wood, and ultra-white glass, covering a design area of 10763 sq.ft.

One of the key aspects of "Surely" is its interaction with natural light. Depending on the time of day, weather, and unpredictable natural light, the designer allows light to enter the room through openings, forming rich shadows and lines. This interaction brings the space to life, moving away from monotony. The walls, once cleaned, reveal a mottled and rough texture, exuding a simple, thick, and stable atmosphere. The exquisite art installation in a corner embraces the whole space in an introverted way.

The project started in March 2018 and was completed in 2019 in Hangzhou, China. Despite the lack of marketing planning, "Surely" quickly became a hot topic in Hangzhou, and one of the most popular art punch points in the country. It represents a new benchmark in the industry and a new fashion stronghold in the city. The design process was not without its challenges, as the designer and the owner experienced the overthrow and replay of the design scheme, the reconstruction and disassembly of the wall, and the continuous replacement of the soft decoration display.

"Surely" is a testament to the power of co-creation, where both parties continuously influence each other. This project is a unique combination of art, casualness, and retail in one space. The contrast between creation and the early stage offers more flexibility for the sustainable development of space in the future. This design was awarded the Golden A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2020, a testament to its outstanding and trendsetting creation that advances art, science, design, and technology.