Parlor19 Jewelry Shop / say architects

Curated by 韩爽 - HAN Shuang

Interior Designers: say architects
Area: 180 m²
Year: 2020
Photographs: Minjie Wang, Xiaonian Bai
Manufacturers: Alvar Aalto, Fritz Hansens, Maison Joseph

Text description provided by the architects. In the past Hangzhou, there were lots of entertainment spaces and private clubs around West Lake, today, with the development of counter-urbanization, some of them have been renovated and opened again. It became the biggest challenge in this project that how to balance commerce and the excellent natural location.

Parlor means living room in French. The Client has a professional background in jewelry design, she wants the space to be more like a living room instead of a normal shop and with a function that could provide with flexible display for particular jewelry pieces. At the beginning of the design, we had a thorough understanding of jewelry brands present by the client. Each jewelry, with its unique shape, texture, and way of wearing, shows their individual personality. Say takes this opportunity to personify the jewelry, they are the users of the space. Say created a three level living room in the space: the outer hall, the middle room, and the inner chamber.

The plan was generated from two circles and one rectangle, the center of the circles aligned in the center of the space creating a symmetrical design. The courtyard landscape was realized with French pine, benches, and bushes, friendly allowing visitors to stay, talk, and relax. The axle of the courtyard was rotated by 30 degrees, leading to the storefront window, and then, one shall enter the Parlor. Tables, chairs, shelves, fireplace were arranged in the Parlor as it was the main social space in the design. Jewelry replaced people became the owner of the space.

The opening in the center of the parlor led to the Chamber, the ending space of the tri-layer design. Inspired by Villa Rotunda designed by Palladio, the chamber, constructed with eggshell sandstone, reflective ceiling, and floor serves as a spatial hub, not only hiding the shear wall but also connecting the counter, warehouse, restroom, and fitting room. The Chamber space is a tranquil and elegant ending of the route as we hope it forms an intimate and private atmosphere.

The sink of the restroom is made by whole stone material, with the entry doorknob, both echoing the basic shape of the design, rectangle, and circle.

Superimposing the floor plan of the Parlor19, the carved stone becomes the door handle. SAY regards it as the first handshake between the guests and the space.