The podium façade draws on traditional Shikumen stone-gate terrace houses that once defined Shanghai’s residential streetscapes. The design translates these heritage proportions and prominent doorways into double-height flagship shop fronts. Stepped terraces on the upper levels reference the wide, tree-lined streets of the adjacent former French Concession area, extending its leafy character vertically and creating an indoor-outdoor dining offer with views across the district. Four glazed ‘pop-out’ boxes along the terrace levels define the fine-dining spaces, giving the building presence on the street at every hour.

For the retail interiors, we planned the layout around a six-storey retail spine with interior atria that draw in natural light and function as multipurpose, flexible event spaces. To create a warm environment, we specified tactile materials such as terracotta, natural stone and certified timbers with curved arcade spaces to contrast the angular glass, metal and granite exterior façades.