- 2025 Pioneer Prize
- From Residential Space
A Poem of Dwelling: Awakening Perception in Earth Tones
Project Description
This project is a 210 m² (approx. 2,260 sq ft) residential renovation that reimagines the spatial flow while preserving the original four-bedroom, two-living-room layout.
By introducing a central island wardrobe and a circular circulation system, the design reorganizes the home's movement paths to enhance both privacy and openness. A systematic assessment of the site led to optimizations in window placement, ceiling structure, and spatial proportions, allowing natural light and outdoor views to become integral to the interior experience. Rather than imposing form, the design lets the space grow organically—like fertile soil that nurtures the resident’s daily senses—through changing light and the rhythm of the seasons.
By stepping back, the design gives the space room to lead—inviting the residents to quietly embrace the landscape, nature, and the world beyond.
Zhen Xu, founder of Lanben Design and Deputy Dean of the Decoration Department at Dianzhu Design Group, is based in Jiangsu, China. He advocates that perception comes before interpretation, and that being is more important than the meaning assigned to it. His work centers on the relationship between space and human experience. By balancing scale, atmosphere, light, and time, he creates spaces that serve as quiet, powerful connections between people and nature. His design philosophy is rooted in natural emergence, rather than deliberate form-making. From 2018 to 2024, his works have been honored with multiple domestic and international design awards, and have been featured in a range of professional publications.
