In the heart of Shanghai’s old city, CCD has unveiled One Central Park, a project that bridges centuries of cultural memory with a forward-facing vision of urban life. Rooted in Haipai culture, the city’s unique blend of Eastern and Western traditions, the design pays tribute to Shanghai’s seven centuries of evolution, while creating an immersive contemporary space that moves beyond the typology of a sales center.
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At the core of the project is a chromatic narrative distilled from the city’s iconic red. This timeworn hue, drawn from the terracotta tiles and Shikumen alleys of historic villas, becomes the emotional thread binding past and present. Red travertine, hand-fired bricks, and textured surfaces anchor the interiors, while copper cladding and warm lighting infuse the atmosphere with a contemplative calm. From the entrance foyer to the urban lounge, the space invites visitors into a poetic dialogue where history is reinterpreted rather than erased.
The design embraces time in layered forms. In the elevator hall, the installation Metamorphosis, a collaboration between CCD’s founder Joe Cheng and artist Huang Wanbing, unfolds like a silkworm cocoon, woven from ramie threads by fifteen artisans. This piece embodies themes of transformation, craftsmanship, and vitality, echoing the city’s constant renewal. In the lounge, If I Were You by Huang Cheng explores shifting perspectives, while a sculptural fireplace and tea pavilion create social spaces reminiscent of Shanghai’s villas of the 1930s.
Nature and artistry are seamlessly integrated into the project. Floral compositions by Sogetsu Ikebana artist Xu Yanya infuse the interiors with living energy, while carefully placed screens and amber lighting recreate the intimacy of Shikumen alleyways. Even the restrooms maintain this vision, where travertine surfaces and mirrored reflections blur the boundaries of reality and illusion.
With One Central Park, CCD demonstrates how design can preserve memory while fostering new vitality. The project unfolds as a cultural lounge, an urban retreat where history, art, and lifestyle converge into a living expression of Shanghai’s identity.
