The dubbed world’s biggest LEGOLAND resort opens in Shanghai, China, with building models made of blocks. Located in Fengjing Town, Jinshan District, the first LEGOLAND resort in the country covers 318,000 square meters, with eight themed areas, more than 75 rides, shows, and attractions, plus thousands of LEGO models made from over 85 million LEGO bricks. The grand opening week spans between July 5th and 13th, 2025, and visitors during this period can watch the live daily shows that the resort hosts.

A theme park with cultural architecture, the LEGOLAND resort in Shanghai, China, demonstrates buildings and motifs referring to the Chinese culture, like the boat ride that shows the LEGO versions of old Chinese water towns and modern Shanghai. Everything in the scenery is made from LEGO bricks, and it is 25 times smaller than the real buildings. There’s also a LEGO Monkie Kid live show exhibiting the dubbed world’s largest LEGO minifigure, as well as two new areas built just for the LEGOLAND resort in Shanghai, China: the Brick Street and the Bricktopia.

all images courtesy of Merlin Entertainments

world’s biggest LEGOLAND resort in shanghai, china

Throughout the LEGOLAND resort and theme park in Shanghai, China, there are six large restaurants, lots of smaller food stands, and around ten retail stores, spread across the entire area. Each location follows the brick theme, with places like Pigsy’s Food Court, CITY Restaurant, and Bricks Family Restaurant serving meals on LEGO-themed plates and cups. The food stands around the park also offer LEGO-themed snacks, such as LEGO brick-shaped ice cream. Aside from being the world’s largest LEGOLAND resort at the time of publishing, this theme park in Shanghai, China, houses The BIG Shop, which is also considered the largest LEGO store in Asia.

Inside the store, visitors can go through and own the brand’s toys, sets, clothing, and souvenirs, as well as limited-edition items that can only be found in Shanghai. The design team also constructed the LEGOLAND Hotel next to the theme park in case they want to stay on-site. The grand opening of this resort in Shanghai, China, came after years of collaborative work between the LEGO Group, Merlin Entertainments, and local government and businesses. The LEGOLAND resort and theme park in Shanghai, China, is now open, and it also hosted the start of the 36th Shanghai Tourism Festival during the opening, which is a summer tourism initiative by the local government, running from July 5th, the same opening date of the theme park, until August 31st, 2025.

the dubbed world’s biggest LEGOLAND resort opens in Shanghai, China

the resort covers 318,000 square meters, with eight themed areas and more than 75 rides

view of the opening on July 5th, 2025

the grand opening week spans between July 5th and 13th, 2025

project info:

name: LEGOLAND Resort 

location: Fengjing Town, Jinshan District, Shanghai, China

companies: LEGO Group, Merlin Entertainments | @lego

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With construction advancing toward its planned opening in 2025, fresh photographs by StudioSZ document the evolving presence of Snøhetta‘s Shanghai Grand Opera House in the city’s Expo Houtan neighborhood. Designed in collaboration with ECADI, the project introduces a monumental cultural landmark along the Huangpu River, where its spiraling roofline rises in a steady gesture above the waterfront.

The opera house takes shape as a broad, gently rotating form, expressed in layered terraces and sweeping contours that convey a sense of movement anchored in place. At ground level, the structure meets its surroundings through a generous plaza and landscaped edges, drawing visitors toward a continuous, climbable roof that functions as a civic promenade. This rooftop, which will be open throughout the year, establishes a public destination as much as an architectural feature, creating varied vantage points over the river and the city skyline.

images © StudioSZ

snøhetta designs with contextual motifs

The design by Snøhetta references the image of a traditional folding fan, a motif repeated across the project’s interiors and circulation spaces. The architects have described this gesture as evoking the dynamic energy of dance while underscoring a commitment to public ownership. Inside, the composition unfolds in a sequence of overlapping volumes, where lobbies and halls merge with interstitial gathering areas to promote fluid movement among audiences.

Three auditoriums of different capacities are positioned to accommodate a spectrum of performances, ranging from traditional Chinese opera to contemporary experimental productions. The main hall, configured for opera and symphonic work, is complemented by smaller venues for recitals and immersive shows. Warm finishes and measured lighting define the interior palette, supporting an atmosphere that balances clarity with intimacy.

the Shanghai Grand Opera House is nearing completion along the Huangpu River in the Expo Houtan neighborhood

materiality: translucent, smooth and white

Snøhetta’s scope encompasses architecture, landscape, interior, and graphic design, reinforcing coherence across scales throughout the Shanghai Grand Opera Hall. The building envelope combines smooth white surfaces with translucent panels that modulate daylight and reveal activity within. A network of terraces and roof pathways extends the public realm vertically, encouraging engagement beyond the primary performance spaces.

The project incorporates a range of supporting amenities. Libraries, rehearsal studios, restaurants, and small cinemas are distributed through the perimeter, broadening the building’s reach beyond evening performances. Each program element has been configured to share visual connections with the larger circulation system, maintaining the clarity of the fan-shaped plan.

The recent images by StudioSZ emphasize the Opera House’s advancing material finishes and landscape integration. Concrete and glass are layered with precision, and the rooftop paths already convey the spatial openness that will characterize the completed project.

Snøhetta designed the project in partnership with ECADI as a major landmark for Shanghai

the building’s spiraling roofline forms a climbable public promenade overlooking the river and skyline

a folding fan motif shapes the interiors, symbolizing dance and civic openness

three auditoriums support traditional opera, contemporary performances, and smaller recitals

the rooftop terraces and pathways extend public space into the vertical dimension

warm materials and controlled lighting define the atmosphere within the performance halls

project info:

name: Shanghai Grand Opera Hall

architect: Snøhetta | @snohetta

location: Shanghai, China
collaborators: East China Architectural Design & Research Institute (ECADI), Theatre Projects, Nagata Acoustics, schlaich bergermann partner, Meiss Architecture & Engineering Office
area: 146,786 square meters

previous coverage: April 2019, November 2023

photography: © StudioSZ | @studiosz_photo

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432 small robotic movers have lifted off and relocated an entire Shikumen complex in Shanghai, China, to make way for the construction of a three-story underground development. Temporarily moved from its original site, the cluster of brick buildings’ location allows the developers to build commercial and cultural facilities, underground parking, and connections to three metro lines (Lines 2, 12, and 13) across more than 53,000 square meters.

To move the buildings, the engineers used 432 small robotic movers, which slowly transported the 7,500-ton complex around 10 meters per day starting May 19th, 2025. It was not a rapid relocation to reduce the structural stress and damage to the historic architecture during transit, and on June 7th, 2025, the complex was already brought back to the original site. The Shikumen complex in Shanghai, China, that was moved by the developers is the Zhangyuan block. The construction of the spaces, parking lots, and Metro connections under it has begun.

image stills via Shanghai Municipal People’s Government

Bringing back Shikumen complex in Shanghai, China

For the relocation and underground project, the engineers use mini robots designed to work in confined spaces. The first set is for drilling: a series of remote-controlled robots that can move through narrow corridors and doorways within the Shikumen complex in Shanghai, China. The next set is the one for the soil excavation, equipped with folding mechanical arms so these robots can operate in narrow passages. These robots use deep learning algorithms to identify the soil types and detect any underground and earth obstacles during the excavation process.

The construction company of Shanghai Construction No. 2 (Group), the one leading the underground development as well as the relocation of the complex, uses point-cloud scanning to capture a 3D model of the site. These scans were then integrated into Building Information Modeling software, and in return, it gave detailed blueprints that showed them any possible problems with the relocation. Bringing back the Shikumen complex in Shanghai, China, to its original site was completed on June 7th, 2025, and the engineers have now begun the construction of the underground project. So far, there’s no news yet on its completion date.

the mini robots under the Shikumen complex in Shanghai, China move the entire cluster of buildings

view of the original site of the block

relocated site of the complex | photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn

project info:

developer: Shanghai Construction Group (SCG)

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Louis Vuitton unveils The Louis, a monumental structure moored in Shanghai’s central business district. Resembling a modernist ship at anchor, the boat-like building brings together a multi-story flagship store, Le Café Louis Vuitton, and the brand’s Visionary Journeys exhibition, housed within a surreal facade of metallic Monogram hulls and stacked trunks. Located on Wujiang Road, The Louis honors Louis Vuitton’s maritime roots while anchoring itself in Shanghai’s historic identity as a port city.

Visionary Journeys, the multi-room exhibition spanning two floors, is conceived by Shohei Shigematsu of OMA. It opens with Trunkscape, an installation composed of Monogram canvas trunks that curve into an archway, evoking architecture and dreamscape. Originally shown in Bangkok and Osaka (find designboom’s previous coverage here), this iteration draws visitors into a cinematic voyage through Louis Vuitton’s intertwined history with design, innovation, and travel, from the 1859 workshop in Asnières to high-seas regattas and couture-bound steamer trunks. ‘Our installation uses iconic Louis Vuitton trunks in a playful display that intuitively and instantly communicates the Maison’s heritage and spirit of innovation,’ shares Shohei Shigematsu. ‘Conceived to fit the central atrium of the temporary store, the four trunk towers are part structural and part sculptural, familiar in materiality yet foreign in shape, height, and slenderness, created by their distinctly stacked forms. Together, they become a spatial amplifier that feels surreal yet rooted to Louis Vuitton’s origins.’

all images courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton draws from transoceanic journeys

The Louis is a space created by Louis Vuitton that encapsulates the spirit of travel and the deep connection of the french house to movement, craftsmanship, and culture. Its design draws inspiration from transoceanic journeys, the kind once made by ocean liners, combining the shape of a ship’s prow with the form of a classic Louis Vuitton steamer trunk. The outside is covered in shimmering metallic Monogram patterns that reflect light like the surface of the sea, making the structure itself a symbol of travel and timeless design.

Inside, visitors are taken on a journey that includes food, shopping, and storytelling through exhibition. Each room is themed to reflect a different chapter in Louis Vuitton’s evolution through historic pieces and creativity.

Louis Vuitton unveils The Louis, a monumental structure moored in Shanghai’s central business district

an oma-designed journey through objects

This journey begins with Origins, a space that features the early designs of the house, reimagined with a contemporary touch. This room sets the tone for the rest of the experience, one that honors tradition while embracing innovation. Next is Voyage, which explores the more whimsical and personal aspects of travel through archival patents, stories from famous clients, and custom-made items. Olfactive Exploration focuses on fragrance and puts on display rare perfume bottles from as far back as 1927 alongside scents crafted by in-house perfumer Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud.

Moving on, Books and Sport shows how the brand functions as both storyteller and companion across many worlds. From Gaston-Louis Vuitton’s love of literature and publishing to its role in creating elegant trophy trunks for global events like Formula 1 and the Olympics. In Fashion & Leather Goods, the house’s creative metamorphosis takes center stage, spotlighting classic bags reinterpreted by artistic directors including Marc Jacobs, Virgil Abloh, and Pharrell Williams. Workshop and Testing pull visitors into the behind-the-scenes world of Louis Vuitton craftsmanship, where tools nicknamed Louise and Louisette help make sure that each piece meets rigorous standards. Perched on the third floor, Le Café Louis Vuitton brings a refined take on Shanghai-style dining, a fusion of East and West shaped by chefs Leonardo Zambrino and Zoe Zhou.

The opening of The Louis in Shanghai ties Louis Vuitton’s roots in travel to the role of the city as a longtime port of exchange, reflecting on how objects carry meaning over time.

resembling a modernist ship at anchor, the boat-like building brings together multiple uses

a surreal facade of metallic Monogram hulls

The Louis honors Louis Vuitton’s maritime roots

the project anchors itself in Shanghai’s historic identity as a port city

the design draws inspiration from transoceanic journeys, the kind once made by ocean liners

Visionary Journeys is the multi-room exhibition spanning two floors

the exhibition’s design is conceived by Shohei Shigematsu of OMA

Trunkscape is composed of Monogram canvas trunks that curve into an archway

Olfactive Exploration puts on display rare perfume bottles

Books and Sport shows how the brand functions as both storyteller and companion across many worlds

Origins features the early designs of the house

the behind-the-scenes world of Louis Vuitton craftsmanship

Origins sets the tone for the rest of the experience

project info:

name: The Louis

brand: Louis Vuitton | @louisvuitton

architect: Shohei Shigematsu / OMA | @omanewyork, @shohei_shigematsu

location: Wujiang Road, Jing’an district, Shanghai, China

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Set within the historic grounds of the Shanghai Exhibition Center, Shanghai Kitcho reimagines the Edo-mae sushi dining experience. At the heart of the space designed by Mitsuhiro Shoji of Uchida Shanghai, a sculptural fan-shaped ceiling hovers above a curved hinoki wood counter, casting dramatic shadows and anchoring the composition. This element draws from the elegance of traditional Japanese motifs while referencing the scale and expression of Chinese aesthetics. Amid this, rich materials — from Jingdezhen porcelain to earthen plaster — create a tactile, culturally layered atmosphere where heritage and modernity quietly converge.

all images by Kenta Hasegawa

Uchida Shanghai infuses the space with warm hues and textures

Two private dining rooms extend this narrative. One features a softly illuminated ceiling with washi texture, evoking warmth and tactility, while other is finished in silver leaf, creating a serene and reflective atmosphere. These spatial contrasts embody both cohesion and cultural dialogue.

Throughout the interior, the team at Uchida Shanghai selected materials particularly for their richness and cultural resonance. Chinese-toned earthen plaster walls provide depth and warmth, while handcrafted ceramic tiles and Jingdezhen porcelain introduce subtle detailing that bridges craftsmanship and cuisine. Altogether, Shanghai Kitcho presents a contemporary choreography of light, material, and form — delivering an immersive, culturally layered dining environment where heritage meets modernity with quiet sophistication.

the fan-motif ceiling creates a distinctive perspective within the counter space

rounded hinoki wood counter

detail of the internally illuminated washi-textured ceiling

private dining room with a sloped silver-leaf ceiling

natural light filtering through irregular openings

the entrance space also functions as a gallery with a gold-leaf celling

Jingdezhen porcelain and hinoki wood counter

project info:

name: Shanghai Kitcho
architect: Uchida Shanghai | @uchida_shanghai

lead architect: Mitsuhiro Shoji

location: Shanghai, China

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

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Wutopia Lab’s The Lake House – Life Experience Pavilion sits on the site of a former water base along a bayfront park in Shanghai, China. Developed as a design-build project with an accelerated timeline, the project integrates architecture, structure, interiors, signage, and curatorial display into a single modular strategy, transforming two existing buildings into a unified spatial journey. The pavilion, realized within a mere 40 days, reuses curtain wall ceramic panels from earlier residential developments and combines them with a lightweight metal skin system to create a dual-layered enclosure that distinguishes formal expression from climate performance.

The process began with chief architect Yu Ting surveying three potential sites and selecting one located directly on the water. The brief involved addressing that the park mandated that the original structures be preserved without disturbing even a millimeter of surrounding greenery, including two trees abutting the facades. The client requested integration of recycled materials and an architectural design that could be completed in just a couple of weeks. That same evening, Yu proposed a ‘house within a house’ concept, with two volumes clad respectively in metal and ceramic skins, both layered over the retained structural shells. Developed with structural consultant Miao Binhai, they shaped a metal skin that would form the functional climate envelope, while the ceramic would remain purely visual. Prefabricated modules, repeatable systems, and prefixed materials formed the core of Wutopia Lab’s fast-build strategy.

all images courtesy of Wutopia Lab

wutopia lab completes the pavilion within just 40 days

A modular coordination session followed, where every component was streamlined to meet the deadline. 150×150 millimeter steel profiles were integrated directly into the facade system, and cantilevered foundations on the waterfront were used to create a raised platform for rapid assembly. The resulting envelope blended aluminum cladding, vertical greenery, glass partitions, and ceramic panels into a single layered construction, blurring the boundaries between structure and skin.

Inside, the spatial journey of the Lake House unfolds as a horizontal composition, drawing from the metaphor of Chinese landscape scrolls. Wutopia Lab arranged a sequence of elements — preserved trees, vertical gardens, an entry lobby, exhibition halls, three individually themed VIP rooms, a willow colonnade, a terrace, and a waterside café — as a continuous and immersive path. Interior and exterior thresholds dissolved as a result, and orientation became intuitive through shifting materials, dappled daylight, and the calibrated interplay of solidity and openness.

Wutopia Lab completes The Lake House – Life Experience Pavilion

the prefabricated volumes inserts industrial textures in nature

Throughout the space, repurposed and unconventional materials create a quiet undercurrent, suggesting a more reflective engagement with sustainability. Marine plastic plaster, mushroom leather, recycled tiles, and glazed ceramics perform as tactile evidence of a material logic rooted in sensorial awareness. In one of the VIP rooms, a skylight was retained even after its accompanying stair was removed due to park restrictions. That improvised void now takes on a new reading, echoing old Shanghai tiger windows or mirroring the shape of a nearby tree hollow, and marking a moment of alignment between contingency and intention.

Despite its compressed timeline, Wutopia Lab’s Lake House resists the aesthetics of fast architecture and creates space for measured experience. In the final days before opening, a passerby stopped to run his hand across the pearlescent ceramic wall, pausing silently before walking away. For Yu Ting and the design team, that quiet gesture marked the real completion of the project.

a multifunctional pavilion

set on the site of a former water base in Shanghai

the project integrates architecture, structure, interiors, signage, and curatorial display into a single modular strategy

the pavilion reuses curtain wall ceramic panels from earlier residential developments

combined with a lightweight metal skin system

the client requested integration of recycled materials and a design that could be completed in just a couple of weeks

the architects proposed a ‘house within a house’ concept, wrapping the volumes in new skins

blending aluminum cladding, vertical greenery, glass partitions, and ceramic panels into a single layered construction

orientation became intuitive through shifting materials, dappled daylight, and the calibrated interplay of solidity and openness

the spatial journey unfolds as a horizontal composition, drawing from the metaphor of Chinese landscape scrolls

developed with structural consultant Miao Binhai

project info:

name: The Lake House – Life Experience Pavilion
architect: Wutopia Lab | @wutopia.lab

location: Shanghai, China

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: ravail khan | designboom

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In Shanghai’s Changning District, Atelier Siyu breathes new life into a former industrial shell with the renovation of Kaixuanfang Studio, a 760-square-meter workspace that has served as the client’s headquarters for nearly a decade. Without altering the basic layout, the design team undertakes a strategic reprogramming of the two-level interior.

The architects revamp this hybrid creative workspace, part photography studio and part office, introducing new volumes, angular geometries, and adaptive design gestures to improve circulation and help things run more smoothly. The project explores contrasts by combining logical planning with expressive design gestures, where rectilinear forms transition into dynamic alignments that frame views, connect spaces, and introduce moments of surprise.

A key intervention on the ground floor is a skewed meeting room, what Atelier Siyu calls a ‘box’, placed at a 15-degree angle within the orthogonal shell. This move sets off a ripple of indirect circulation routes and spatial overlaps that break up the previously straightforward floor plan. With dimensions of 4.2 by 7.2 meters, the box holds a 12-person conference space and acts as a spatial hinge, connecting the public-facing reception and photo studio with a series of more private functions, including a theater, sample room, and equipment storage. 

images by Chenhao, unless stated otherwise

angular staircase and brick cladding redefine the entrance

By intentionally misaligning new and existing planes, the designers at Atelier Siyu introduce a sense of motion and spatial depth. Subtle lighting interventions further amplify this layered geometry, playing off the angled surfaces to create an atmosphere that shifts throughout the day.

One of the most striking design features appears right at the entrance, where Atelier Siyu reworks the existing staircase to directly connect the entryway with the reception area. By removing and repositioning part of the stair, they improve how people move through the space and turn the stair into a standout vertical element. The area beneath it now hosts a small pantry, visually tied to the front desk and kitchen with light brick cladding laid out in angular patterns. The stair itself, painted black, framed in red steel, and set on a grey concrete base, brings a bold, industrial feel to the space. Openings between the stair and reception are carefully placed to maintain visual connections while still offering a sense of privacy.

a key intervention on the ground floor is a skewed meeting room

walls that think: integrating utilities into structure

Along the window-facing wall on the first floor, the studio found a thick, 600-millimeter wall made of concrete and added steel. Instead of tearing it down or covering it up, Atelier Siyu decided to work with it in a practical way. They neatly fitted things like air conditioners, fire extinguishers, and trash bins into the wall at just the right heights, creating a smart, multi-use area that frees up floor space and helps organize the studio better. To balance light and privacy, parts of the wall are covered with glass bricks, which not only fit the building’s industrial look but also gently soften the light inside.

Atelier Siyu breathes new life into a former industrial shell with the renovation of Kaixuanfang Studio

navigating low ceilings with geometry and light

Upstairs, the ceiling drops to just 2.3 meters under the original beams, a challenge that the architects embraced with bold, geometric shapes. They added irregular metal structures between work areas to create clear boundaries, change how the space feels, and open up certain spots. Private offices for administration, finance, and management are enclosed with slanted glass walls that line up with these metal shapes, creating overlapping crystal-like effects that make the space feel bigger than it is. 

To handle electrical wiring on the second floor, where running cables under the floor wasn’t an option, Atelier Siyu used vertical columns that quietly carry wires from the ceiling down to the desks, turning necessary infrastructure into part of the design.

The renovation of Kaixuanfang Studio turns a straightforward, practical space into a flexible, creative place to work by thinking through how people move, how light flows, and how each area is used. It’s a workspace that shapes how people navigate the space and connect with each other, thanks to angled lines, smartly placed walls, and framed views that reveal new ways of seeing the building.

the area beneath the staircase now hosts a small pantry

introducing new volumes, angular geometries, and adaptive design gestures | image by Atelier Siyu

the project explores contrasts by combining logical planning with expressive design gestures

introducing moments of surprise

the design team undertakes a strategic reprogramming of the two-level interior

pops of color complete the interior | image by Atelier Siyu

upstairs, the ceiling drops to just 2.3 meters under the original beams | image by Wangke

irregular metal structures between work areas create clear boundaries | image by Wangke

private offices are enclosed with slanted glass walls | image by Atelier Siyu

a flexible, creative place to work

project info:

name: Renovation of Kaixuanfang Studio
architect: Atelier Siyu | @atelier.siyu

location: Changning District, Shanghai, China

area: 760 square meters

photographer: Chenhao, Wangke, Siyu

contractor: Shanghai Idea Mechanics Interior Designers Contractors

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Dayuan Design Studio takes over the interior configuration of RERY Fashion Lifestyle Gallery on Huaihai Middle Road in Shanghai, China, at the Gascogne Apartments, reflecting a dual cultural heritage. Designed by Leonard, Veysseyre & Kruze during the Republican era, the building features windows overlooking the green spaces of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. The boutique’s ground floor annex has been reconfigured into a retail and café space that integrates flexible design principles while maintaining the building’s original character.

The design merges beauty retail and coffee spaces within a single environment, incorporating a modular display system that allows for adaptive spatial use. The intention was to enhance visual connectivity while preserving the existing architectural elements. Movable display units facilitate various layouts, accommodating beauty showcases, café functions, and temporary exhibitions.

all images by YUUUUNSTUDIO

Dayuan design’s flexible configuration enhances connectivity

During site evaluation, the team at Dayuan Design identified two primary spatial constraints: the enclosed glass windows were flush with the building’s edge, limiting interaction between the indoor space and the sidewalk, and the internal layout was not optimized for circulation. To address these issues, a recessed entrance was introduced, creating a transitional zone that improves pedestrian flow and invites engagement. A diagonal layout further enhances spatial flexibility, allowing for the incorporation of greenery, art installations, and temporary retail events. The repositioning of the building’s boundary enables a more fluid integration with the surrounding urban environment.

The original structure, formerly a bank, features rusted steel panels and exposed concrete surfaces, elements that were retained to highlight the site’s material history. A 2.6-meter-high low wall system was added along the perimeter, using horizontal metal frames to soften the vertical proportions. This intervention balances industrial textures with contemporary retail functions while maintaining a sense of openness. The rusted steel panels, initially structural components, were repurposed as decorative and functional elements within the space.

RERY Fashion Lifestyle Gallery’s entrance

Curated Spatial Design Blends Retail, Interaction, and Flexibility

A curatorial approach was adopted to ensure adaptability for multi-brand retail. The entrance features a translucent yellow resin installation that acts as a visual marker. Surrounding it, modular metal racks display beauty products, while resin panel screens can be adjusted to accommodate special exhibitions. The makeup trial area incorporates a mobile display unit with a dual-facing design that transitions between everyday retail use and event configurations. When repositioned, it creates an enclosed vanity space suitable for product demonstrations or private consultations.

The reception area functions as both a service point and an interactive installation. A combination of rusted steel panels and curved resin walls defines the space, contrasting industrial textures with smooth, translucent materials. The reception counter incorporates a QR code-based ordering system, using a rail mechanism to deliver products from storage to the front desk. This approach enhances efficiency while integrating digital interaction within the physical retail experience.

connection with the neighborhood

Modular displays define RERY Boutique’s interiors by Dayuan

A central column features an interactive installation that includes mirrors, digital screens, and exposed lighting elements. This structure, referencing the entrance’s hexagonal resin form, engages visitors through real-time projection technology, transforming the column into a dynamic focal point within the space. Display units are based on triangular modules, ensuring flexibility in arrangement. These units serve both daily retail needs and special exhibitions. Outdoor planter boxes mirror the proportions of the interior displays, creating a cohesive visual language between indoor and outdoor elements. The use of corrugated acrylic panels optimizes cost efficiency while maintaining adaptability for product presentation.

One corner of the space integrates multiple functional components: a makeup waste disposal unit, an adjustable mirror, and an acrylic display stand. These elements can be used individually or combined, supporting various spatial configurations. As the display system is adjusted, the function and orientation of each module shift, enhancing interaction between the space and its users.

reception area

modular triangular display system

central column integrated immersive system

dark red rusted steel panels and exposed concrete ceilings

modern herb dispensing system

yellow mobile cabinet in event mode

yellow mobile cabinet in private mode

yellow mobile cabinet in private mode

display prop assemblies

trapezoidal entrance

project info:

name: RERY Fashion Lifestyle Gallery
architect: Dayuan Design

location: Shanghai, China

area: 148 sqm

construction: Shanghai Xunlang Decoration Design Co., Ltd

prop production: Shanghai Shenjiang Construction Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd., Shanghai Xunlang Decoration Design Co., Ltd

display production: Shanghai Shenjiang Construction Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd.

photographer: YUUUUNSTUDIO | @yuuuunstudiooo

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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X+Living takes over the design of the first global flagship store of TOP TOY, located on Shanghai’s Nanjing East Road, introducing a ‘gamified design approach’ to retail. Drawing from pixelated gaming aesthetics, classic consoles, modular building blocks, and bold color schemes of red, blue, and purple, the space features oversized toy-packaging facades to create an interactive and immersive environment. The store’s open visual pathways and game-map layout encourage exploration and engagement. Functional zones, including IP-themed cafés and brick-building areas, mimic gaming quests and reinforce the interactive experience while strengthening the brand’s identity and enhancing offline retail’s role as a social hub.

all images courtesy of X+Living

entering TOP TOY store mimics entering large-scale packaged toys

For the design of TOP TOY’s first global flagship store in Shanghai, architectural studio X+Living adopts a dynamic, playful approach. The external facade features a large-scale toy-packaging design with irregular transparent display windows, creating a visually striking entrance. A prominent TOP TOY character, the Great Power Fortune Cat, is displayed at an exaggerated scale, establishing a recognizable landmark and inviting exploration. The interplay of vivid colors and open sightlines act as a loading screen, setting the stage for a ‘gamified’ retail experience.

Inside, the spatial design reflects the aesthetics of classic red-and-white gaming consoles. Rather than relying solely on nostalgia, the design deconstructs and reinterprets familiar elements to create a connection across multiple generations. Modern visual elements ensure relevance for younger audiences while maintaining an aesthetic continuity that appeals to all ages.

oversized toy-packaging facades create an immersive storefront

X+Living arranges game map layout for TOP TOY flagship store

Gaming-inspired modularity informs the TOP TOY flagship store’s layout, with rectangular elements derived from gaming consoles forming display platforms, shelving, and seating arrangements. The design integrates brand identity through elements inspired by TOP TOY’s game ‘China Bricks,’ arranging modular units in varied configurations. Transparent columns and staggered display platforms resemble the plastic texture of retro games, creating an open, layered visual experience. On the ceiling, a grid of perforated trusses is interspersed with mirrors, reflecting and inverting the space. The central staircase serves as a focal point, connecting multiple levels and reinforcing the sense of vertical exploration akin to progressing through game levels.

The layout mirrors a game map, with interconnected pathways guiding visitors through different sections. A zigzag circulation pattern on the first floor ensures smooth movement and product accessibility, while a circular route on the second floor avoids rigid layouts. X+Living’s design aims to create a multi-dimensional consumer experience that blends aesthetics, engagement, and brand identity.

large-scale toy-packaging facade features irregular transparent display windows

a pixel-inspired aesthetic connects gaming and retail

a bold color scheme of red, blue, and purple defines the space

open visual pathways guide visitors through a game-like layout

strategic lighting and color enhance the immersive atmosphere

mirrored ceilings create an illusion of infinite space

custom lighting and reflections create an interactive ambiance

geometric display platforms integrate product and space

the store layout functions like a navigable game map

playful circulation paths encourage exploration at every turn

the staircase structure resembles a game level progression

project info:

name: Top Toy’s First Global Flagship Store

architect: X+Living | @xlivingart

location: Shanghai, China

area: 682 sqm

lead architect: Li Xiang

technical directors: Wu Feng, Li Yaping
project directors: Yang Qiong, Xiang Shengming

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

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LOEWE debuts its largest flagship in Asia, CASA LOEWE Shanghai, in the heart of the Jing’an District. The striking facade of the monolithic structure is clad in 35,536 handcrafted golden ceramic tiles produced by Barcelona-based Studio Cumella. These tiles, made from materials sourced from the mountains of eastern Spain, create a luminous, reflective surface that transforms the building into a shimmering landmark in downtown Shanghai.

all images courtesy of LOEWE

studio cumella’s ceramic tiles extend onto the interior walls

The Spanish fashion house LOEWE unveils its latest flagship store in Shanghai with its exterior defined by a richly textured golden surface crafted from Studio Cumella’s ceramic tiles, reminiscent of LOEWE’s folded leather patterns. This tactile facade interacts with sunlight, shifting in appearance throughout the day. In contrast to the sleek glass skyscrapers nearby, the rectilinear volume makes a statement within the city. The golden hues echo the nearby Jing’an Temple, a historic landmark in the district with ornate gold detailing.

The rippling effect of the facade extends into the interior of the store, where a refined material palette and an interplay of light enhance the spatial experience. CASA LOEWE Shanghai brings together a curated selection of artworks from the brand’s vast collection, reflecting its deep-rooted ties to craftsmanship. Handmade tiles from Spain line the walls of the store, a deliberate nod to the brand’s origins and its ongoing dialogue between past and present, material and place.

CASA LOEWE Shanghai is located the heart of the Jing’an District

the rippling effect of the facade extends into the interior of the store

a refined material palette and an interplay of light enhance the spatial experience

handmade tiles from Spain line the walls of the store

reflecting the brand’s deep-rooted ties to craftsmanship

CASA LOEWE Shanghai brings together a curated selection of artworks from the vast collection of the brand

the tiles are reminiscent of LOEWE’s folded leather patterns

orange and green details complete the interior

golden hues echo the nearby Jing’an Temple

Studio Cumella’s ceramic tiles clad the richly textured golden surface of the facade

these tiles are made from materials sourced from the mountains of eastern Spain

project info: 

name: CASA LOEWE Shanghai
brand: LOEWE (here) | @loewe
location: 1515 West Nanjing Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai
tiles: Ceràmica Cumella | @ceramicacumella

The post casa LOEWE shanghai opens with facade clad in 35,536 individual golden ceramic tiles appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.