English text translated by Jenny Zhi
Photography by Yan Ming/B+M Studio
Hidden away in the Jinke Jiuqu River Park in Chongqing, located in China’s Sichuan Province, this 9,688-square-foot single-family villa seamlessly blends a traditional Chinese aesthetic with contemporary design in its five floors.
The designers of the NNS Institute of Interior Art and Design (NNS) incorporated many natural elements that have symbolic meaning in the Chinese consciousness, like mountains, rivers, pine trees, clouds, the wind, and the moon. For instance, the ancients believed immortals dwelled amid China’s lofty mountain peaks, so mountains became closely intertwined with beliefs in spiritual cultivation and transcendence. These natural elements appear across traditional Chinese culture and imagery, and the designers thoughtfully incorporated such elements throughout the home.
ELITE: How did you incorporate traditional Chinese elements into the different spaces?
NNS: We decided the main theme for each space based on the interests and lifestyle habits of each resident. And based on these themes, we harmoniously incorporated Chinese-style elements into each space.
The layout of the interior emphasizes symmetry. The space is elegantly styled with simple, graceful shapes and rich, refined colors. For ancient Chinese people, the design of a home went hand-in-hand with their belief in self-reflection and cultivating moral and spiritual character. In traditional homes, the layout of artwork exemplified symmetry, harmony, and balance. And the ancients sought to reflect the natural world that they revered within a home’s decorative details.
For the villa’s furnishings, we focused on symmetry and cultural significance. Decorative details include calligraphy, paintings, antiques, scrolls, and “penjing,” the ancient Chinese art of presenting artistically formed flora and landscapes in miniature. Exquisite works of art, like wooden carvings hung on the wall, reflect the owner’s taste and respectability as well as the unique charm of traditional Chinese design.
The villa’s decor is characterized by simple, straight lines. In some cases, we drew from the rectangular designs and colors of modern Western industrial design and put them alongside traditional Chinese-style furniture.
Chinese design is filled with symbolism and distinctive features, and we wanted to be flexible as we integrated these features in our design.
This bedroom is adorned with a screen that exemplifies symmetry and balance.
ELITE: Where did the art pieces in the home come from, and who are the artists?
NNS: Some art pieces we discovered individually among folk art; others came directly from the artists. In the Chinese tradition, we prefer to discover hidden treasures, things that are interesting.
ELITE: How did you select modern furniture that conveys Chinese traditions?
NNS: We mixed and matched based on the overall design. Some modern furniture uses Chinese fabrics or designs, like dragon or cloud patterns. In doing so, they present the Chinese style in a modern form.
ELITE: Ceramics and simple, natural sculptures seem essential in the design. How did you make these choices?
NNS: Take the basement study as an example. At the outset, we defined it as a collection room, a space in which the owner can collect antiques and art pieces. The cabinets we chose are simple and structured, so its decorations could not look messy. As such, we chose a series of milky white ceramic jars. On one hand, the neat display presents a sense of ceremony; on the other hand, it fits with the owner’s interests.
ELITE: What are the flooring and carpet in the dining area made of?
NNS: The carpet is made of ultrafine New Zealand wool, and the flooring is Athens gray marble.
ELITE: Can you discuss the function and significance of the traditional courtyard?
NNS: With a traditional Chinese-style courtyard, the rocks, water, flowers, and plants all have a unique Chinese flavor and spirit. The courtyard layout should be pleasing to the eye and rich with feeling.
The courtyard looks upon the study, which features shelves of milky white ceramic jars.
The design of a Chinese-style courtyard emphasizes nature. The embellishments are all things that can be found in nature, like mountains, ponds or rivers, flowers, plants, and trees. Stepping into the courtyard is akin to entering a natural garden, transporting visitors beyond the courtyard. Mountain peaks and flowing streams are common images in Chinese culture, and they are reflected in the rocks and flowing water placed around the courtyard. Courtyards typically had a pipe that transported water to the top of the rocks, allowing the water to flow down like the waterfalls that stream down China’s mountain peaks.
For the ancient Chinese, convenience was a manifestation of good fortune. If people had water flowing in front of their door, they would not have to travel long distances to collect water, so flowing water became a staple in traditional courtyard design. In modern cities, it is difficult to find a house that reflects nature in this way, so when we started this project, we decided to include the traditional courtyard.
Our ultimate goal was to make the exterior and interior of the home mirror each other and to bring nature into the design, thereby reflecting the prosperity and joy of life.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
