A spacious 400-square-meter villa, nestled just outside the Chinese capital, Beijing, has been designed to complement the nature that surrounds it. SHANGCENG DESIGN-Ping Design firm, spearheaded by the lead designer Zhang Ping, has envisioned the new look as a conversation between nature and architecture. The design avoids complex lines while highlighting an abundant life.
Wild Garden in the Outdoors
In the quiet greenery of the suburbs, away from the busy life of China’s populous city, lies a nature-inspired fashion home. Trees of different heights appear as if they are merged with the public greenery in the area. The layers and layers of green extend the landscape continuously. The waist-high wall provides residents with a sense of privacy and security. The courtyard is the centrepiece of the design, with white hydrangeas and pampas grass, and wild gardens that blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor. The black gravel and fire pit in the garden’s flora fill the nights with a crackling fire, and the facade with plant shadows. Firelight and moonlight take turns, alternating seamlessly to mimic the rhythm of life.
Indoors: Minimalist aesthetics
The design of the indoor follows the minimalist route. As lead designer, Zhang Ping has created a spatial narrative by placing golden lighting in the double-height foyer. The first floor hosts the family room that extends its view through the windows. Observing the surroundings through large glass surfaces allows nature to spread throughout the owner’s daily life. The grineery is extended through mirrored surfaces located in the subterranean secret garden. The setup transforms the limited light into a poetic vertical garden.
Further upwards, on the second and third floors, the cosy materials and soft light result in a harmonious space for serene living. Warm materials and soft light are employed to enable rest, healing, and respond to inner emotions. The company balanced function and aesthetics throughout every corner of the house. The design fosters balance between spirit, life, and nature, thus creating a home aimed to develop over time. The constant use of natural materials such as stone, wood, and metal improves the tactility of the space and imbues it with lasting liveliness.
Achieving calmness and balance
The design company Ping Design gets its name from a Chinese Character, “Ping Chang,” meaning common, humble or ordinary. To live up to its name, the company tries to achieve a sense of calmness, balance, and idealism in its designs. Founded in 2024, the studio works in the areas of landscape architecture and design with high-end materials and expensive finishes. A Nature-Inspired Fashion Home is one of the winners of the 2025 BTL Built Design Awards, taking the prize in the Interior Design – Residential category. The design was brought to life by SHANGCENG CONSTRUCTION.
Photo Credit: HANMO VISION, YI GAO
