Header: Hanmo Vision / Ye Miao
The CLOUD MANSION Experience Center, designed by GFD Studio, is set along Hangzhou’s expanding urban axis, sitting right between a busy urban setting and a quieter residential one. Its layout was chosen through two circulation routes, one above ground and one below ground, both of which organise the main spaces and connect them through changes in level, light, material and view.
Above ground
The entrance lobby is planned around a straight, clear line of movement. Dark stone defines the base of the space, wood veneer adds a warmer surface to walls and joinery, and the ceiling lighting is soft and even. The reception counter is placed deep inside the room, so arriving feels like entering a new world.
Beyond the foyer, the layout opens into the lobby lounge. A rounded bar can be found at the centre, finished with a green stone top and suspended lighting above. Arched openings frame views towards the landscape, with a suspended metal screen with a fish-scale pattern filtering light across the room. A floor drop turns into a sunken seating area connected to the central water courtyard. Here, steps, low seating and changes in flooring make this a mix between a circulation system and a rest zone.
Water appears here and there throughout the public spaces. In the residents’ lounge, a glass façade faces the central water feature and courtyard. The gym can be found beside this area, with equipment placed along the windows and an open area at the centre.
Below ground
The underground sequence begins at the foyer, where a low circular pendant light marks the entrance. From here, a corridor leads to the main rooms below ground, with materials shifting gradually in texture and tone along the way. A vaulted ceiling runs the length of the passage, repeating overhead and giving the route a steady sense of direction.
At the end of the corridor, a model display is positioned to be seen from all sides, with rocks and planting outside the window bringing the site into view at the same time. The sunken yard beyond acts as a full-scale counterpart to the model. Nearby, the water bar is finished in natural stone with rounded edges, set against a backdrop of metal and mirrored cabinetry.
The negotiation area runs along one side of the courtyard, with seating arranged to support separate conversations while keeping the space open. Further inside the lower-ground level, a private banquet hall offers some intimacy due to its quiet location, boasting a round table and a finish of soft walls and furnishings. Still in this hall, full-height windows face the sunken yard. At the very end of the route, an outdoor lounge.
Across both levels, between movement, descent, and pause, the space isn’t divided by function: it changes with perception and everyday life.
