- 2026 Silver Prize
- From Homestay Space
Lane Memory Retreat Shanghai
Project Description
Lane Memory Retreat Shanghai is a boutique urban folk hotel embedded within the dense fabric of the city. Rather than treating folk culture as surface decoration or reducing Shanghai identity to nostalgic symbols, the project reinterprets the city’s Shikumen heritage, lane-house memories, Haipai lifestyle and intimate urban rituals through a contemporary hospitality experience.
In a city defined by speed, density and constant movement, the project creates a hidden urban retreat where guests can slow down, reconnect with place and rediscover the quiet emotional depth of Shanghai. It is not an escape from the city, but a sanctuary within it.
The design draws from the spatial language of Shikumen architecture: stone arches, red brick, lime plaster, iron railings, arched windows, inner courtyards and lane-like circulation. These elements are not copied as historical scenery, but carefully translated into a contemporary hotel language through refined detailing, warm lighting, natural materials, muted colors and a restrained sense of luxury.
At the heart of the hotel is a reactivated urban courtyard. Daylight filters through a glass roof, revealing layers of stone, brick, dark timber, woven screens, aged brass, handcrafted objects and quiet planting. The lobby is no longer a transactional check-in space, but a living room for arrival, tea, reading, conversation, craft display and intimate social exchange. Guests do not simply enter a hotel; they enter a slower rhythm of Shanghai life.
The guest suites continue the idea of urban retreat. Dark timber, linen bedding, lime plaster, brick details, arched windows and soft lighting create a calm and intimate atmosphere. Selected rooms introduce a sleep-ritual experience, integrating low lighting, acoustic softness, tea, scent, reading niches and hidden technology to support rest and emotional restoration.
The spa and bath house are conceived as a hidden ritual within the city. Stone, water, steam, light wells and warm shadows form an atmospheric retreat from urban noise. The restaurant, tea salon and craft spaces extend the project’s cultural narrative, connecting local food, handcraft, hospitality and social memory into one continuous experience.
Mr. Yang Man has been deeply engaged in the design of urban homestays, long-term rental apartments, decentralized residential leasing, and small-scale accommodation spaces for over a decade. He possesses extensive experience in real estate leasing operations, urban accommodation product development, and space renovation. His career spans real estate marketing, property consolidation, lease asset management, homestay product positioning, spatial functional planning, guest experience optimization, and operations team management. This diverse background has shaped him into a versatile professional who excels in both commercial operations and practical design execution.
As the General Manager of Shanghai Shuozhiyun Real Estate Marketing Planning Co., Ltd., Mr. Yang oversees the company’s overall operations, project development, property consolidation, space renovation, rental pricing, staff scheduling, customer service, and revenue management. His business portfolio encompasses urban homestays, centralized long-term rental apartments, decentralized residential properties, apartment-style accommodations, and short-, medium-, and long-term leasing products.
Unlike traditional property owners or operators, Mr. Yang’s core competitive advantage lies in his comprehensive understanding of how spaces should be designed, how products should be priced, why guests choose to stay, and how projects can achieve long-term profitability. Rather than focusing solely on the interior decoration of individual properties, he places greater emphasis on overall project positioning, residential efficiency, maintenance costs, guest experiences, and sustainable operational capabilities.
