Massage & More
NO.765 Zhonghua New Road, Jing An District, Shanghai, China
- Architects
- Atelier d'More
- Location
- 上海市静安区中华新路765号, NO.765 Zhonghua New Road, Jing An District, Shanghai, China
- Year
- 2024
Nature is always endowed with the ability to heal the body and mind, so we seek to tap into these forces and naturally integrate them into every inch of the space. Here, every detail pays homage to nature, and every inch of space holds the power to heal.
Located at the intersection of Zhonghua Road and Pushan Road in Shanghai, establishing such a secluded place in such a bustling location is a dual practice of commerce and design for the operator, who is also an architect, to break the stereotype of healing spaces. The project is positioned as a wellness collective shop for young people, with the design intent of creating a place that can heal the fatigue of urban workers, extract healing elements from nature, and make the power of nature a source of healing. Throughout the planning and design process of the entire project, we strive to uphold this concept, making wellness healing an easy part of daily life, and finding a spiritual oasis for recharging in the bustling city. Thus, at this bustling street corner, there is a prominent bright glass box. The frameless transparent glass seems to be hidden in the field of vision, while the wooden grid structure is faintly visible from the inside, blending subtly with the street. The serene and empty atmosphere quietly attracts many curious passersby to explore.
We deliberately planned the guest experience as a complete healing journey. From the moment they enter, when they touch the limestone which is known as the stone of life, our healing journey begins. Upon entering the room, the aroma of essential oils extracted from herbal plants enters the nostrils, and the power of plants silently enters the body through the sense of smell. The stones interspersed on the wooden walls carry raw materials of different colors for health products, embedding the concept of health into visual design, making health less complicated and easier to understand. Stepping on the stones of life, entering the room, the music of nature sounds in the ears, opening the door to auditory healing.
The essence of the plant extracts permeates into the depths of the muscles through the hands of the healing therapist, and the senses of smell and touch enter the world of healing. When lying face down on the healing bed, through the hole at the head of the bed, what catches the eye are the stones of life from the seabed, as if being in the natural ocean. Closing your eyes, you can smell the fragrance of plant essential oils mixed with the freshness of the sea. At this moment, the energy of the space continues to flow into the body like a trickle.
With the clear sound of the tuning fork, the floating body and mind gradually return to reality in the natural healing world. Opening your eyes, the light gradually brightens. In the quiet room, faint light passes through the curtains and penetrates into the room again. Feeling the space you are in again, body and mind have silently reached a harmonious balance with nature. Stepping outside the room, sitting in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass window in the lobby, drinking a pot of warm tea, thoughts scattered along with the line of sight, observing the scenery outside the window. Touch, vision, hearing, smell, and taste complete a immersive healing journey.
When space is surrounded by people, the environment becomes an object. Upon entering, what immediately catches the eye are two symmetrical arc blocks. The semi-transparent partition on the left is dreamy and ethereal, while the wooden grid-line facade dominated on the right side appears somewhat tangible, symbolizing the yin and yang of the human body's meridians. The wooden frame system is the skeleton of the entire space, with a structured and orderly form, providing convenient conditions for future additions of furniture or components. The winding corridor in the middle seems to have no end, leading to the unknown mysterious domain. Sitting by the window, enjoying a cup of fragrant tea, and observing the subtle changes in light and shadow on the ground, the mood gradually relaxes unconsciously. The graceful eaves outside the window are like delicate frames for the scenery. When changing into slippers, the various textured stones on the ground come into view, each accumulating the power of millions of years, having undergone countless abrasions, and finally being embedded in this inch of space to empower the environment.
When a person is enveloped by space, they become an object. The soft and curved space, like a cave, gives people an invisible sense of wrapping, while the geometrically ordered topological forms intersect in every corner of the space. Light is the soul of this project. Compared to the dim atmosphere of traditional spa centers, we are eager to let natural light shine here. When the sunlight passes through the lobby and re-enters the room after being filtered by the semi-transparent partition, it becomes extremely soft and peaceful, as if carrying the breath of the sea. Pulling the curtains, the room is quiet, and the texture of the curtains almost blends with the wall paint. Wearing specially-made healing clothes, allowing the body to fully experience the spiritual essence brought by the healing space, and entering a state of preparation for healing.
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