Mountain Soil Interior Design reimagines a standardised apartment in Shanghais Jiading District, where vintage furniture and recycled materials join hand to let the owners personal art collection shine.
In Shanghais Jiading District, Mountain Soil Interior Design transformed a 1,130 sq.ft. apartment for a young artist with a clear vision: preserve the natural texture of space, integrate his personal collections, and create a residence that invites dialogue. A return to the essence of dwelling. Most of the furniture, artworks, and decorative objects come from his personal collection or are his own creations and designs, brought directly from his studio showroom or storage.
The apartment came with the standard template – three bedrooms, one living room. The designers dismantled the formula. Working closely with the client, they combined three bedrooms into two, correcting the flow and opening up storage capacity. The bulky refrigerator got tucked at the hallways entrance, its finishes blended to reduce visual impact. Unnecessary walls disappeared, connecting kitchen to dining and living areas.
The living space showcases carefully selected vintage pieces. A D70 sofa by Osvaldo Borsani anchors the room, paired with a linen armchair from Studio Oliver Gustav and a Pierre Jeanneret Chandigarh armchair. A Lampe Gras Model 201 table lamp provides warm lighting. The study area features a Pierre Jeanneret Chandigarh desk and a 1954 Pierre Guariche aluminum Tulip chair, each piece contributing to the layered historical narrative.
The corridor does important work here. The design team adjusted its elevation and wrapped it in timeworn wood, creating unique material texture. At the entrance, a stone slab acts as threshold, marking the journey from outside to in.
Materials tell their own story. Weathered stone slabs, naturally oxidised over decades, reappear as wall panels, door handles, fabric selections, bathroom basins, and shower partitions. “Much of the furniture is vintage, evoking a retro sensibility while preserving local character and historical continuity,” says the design firm. “This approach not only supports the overall design vision, but also significantly reduces material waste.”
Photography: Wen Studio
