Atelier d'More

One City, One Market

The project is situated in a commercially dense area of Hefei Economic Development Zone, leveraging the diversity of local businesses and high pedestrian traffic. Atelier d’More aims to create a space where people can gather and connect, intertwining with the urban fabric.

The site features an nearly 8-meter-wide entrance that opens to the city, leading into a long, approximately 30-meter exhibition space—referred to as the “body”—and concludes with supporting functional areas. The total area spans about 800 square meters. A key challenge of this project was how to draw visitors deep into such an elongated commercial space, mitigating the potential negative perception of distance while maximizing foot traffic.

Spatial Prototype - The Marketplace

The unique layout of the site evokes the image of traditional urban markets, which are gradually disappearing from cities. In our memory, such markets often have long passageways stretching inward, lined with countless shops, and every turn leads to another lively scene. Above, there seems to be a canopy sheltering the endless flow of daily life underneath.

We sought to revitalize the space by drawing inspiration from the form of a marketplace, much like how it once served as the vibrant heart of urban neighborhoods. To emphasize the entrance, we created a large-scale opening on the façade, forming an inviting transitional space. From the street, it appears as a massive gateway, bridging the urban hustle with the vibrant extension inward. Taking advantage of the high ceiling, we installed an undulating roof that extends from the semi-outdoor entrance all the way to the deepest part of the exhibition area.

This folded roof serves not only to navigate around complex internal pipelines but also to respond to spatial transitions: it rises to greet visitors in the front hall, then gradually slopes downward along the main passage. Below are two linearly arranged checkout areas positioned along the central axis, radiating toward surrounding display zones. At the intersection of horizontal and vertical circulations, the roof lifts again from its lowest point on one side, marking the hub of the space—a place where staff greet regulars, visitors pause to rest, or shoppers hesitate between display areas. After detaching slightly from the concrete columns on both sides, the roof gently sweeps over the entire circulation path and ends above the furthest display area.

Materials, Colors, and Furniture that Evoke a Sense of Place

Small, intentionally segmented wood-grain fireproof panels are laid in staggered patterns at varying angles across sloping surfaces. The flooring, composed of small strip-shaped limestone tiles, is laid in a 3:7 ratio along the direction of movement. At key spatial nodes, the ground is recessed to accommodate tall trees, integrating natural landscapes with handcrafted materials. This combination softens the overtly commercial nature of the space, infusing it with a leisurely and relaxed atmosphere.

If the undulating roof guides the main circulation path, the furniture arrangement ties together the spatial transitions. Instead of relying on walls to divide different display areas, the design uses the distinct shapes of furniture and symmetrical axial arrangements to naturally define boundaries while reinforcing a sense of place. The interior furniture features warm, muted tones that highlight the subtle elegance of birch wood grain, complemented by sisal finishes in certain areas to add textural depth. With clean and lively silhouettes, functionally diverse furniture harmonizes with walls, ceilings, and floors in coordinating hues. To address functional storage needs, the design incorporates outward bulges at the base of two columns flanking a triple fitting room area. Linear pendant lights draw the eye upward, casting a soft glow high on the walls, evoking the ambiance of an old house where people gather around a fireplace for conversation.

A shelter, small groups of people, and lasting gatherings form a marketplace. No matter how technology evolves, we always return to such shelters to reconnect and engage. Nestled against the marketplace, we find the urban life we love.

project info
Project: Huanxi Closet
Design: Atelier d’More
Website:www.d-more.cn
Contact e-mail:[email protected]
Design Period: 2025.03.27-2025.05.27
Completion: 2025.08.01
Design Team:Zhiyi Lu,Wei Wang,Kevin Tang,Tianrui Yu,Jian Gao,Liangjun Xu(Intern)
Location: Hefei, China
Gross Built Area: 828㎡
Photo Credit: Atelier d'More
Clients: Huanxi Closet
CD collaborator: Xuanji Design
Materials: Lime stone, Inorganic coatings, Birch Plywood
Lighting Design: Atelier d'More
Stone supplier: Bisha Stone
Prop production: Xueyu Furniture Technology Factory