https://www.architecturalrecord.com/rss/1640 en-us http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/18135 Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:03:03 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/18135-neri-and-hu-designs-a-south-korean-coffee-shop-that-doubles-as-social-infrastructure http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/17860 Tue, 25 Nov 2025 21:49:50 -0500 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/17860-2025-architectural-record-awards-winner-shanfeng-les-roches-school http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/16460 Mon, 18 Sep 2023 09:04:46 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/16460-neri-and-hu-designs-a-tailor-made-boutique-for-a-burgeoning-fashion-label http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/16273 Wed, 24 May 2023 11:42:56 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/16273-davos-baukultur-alliance-holds-inaugural-event-at-18th-venice-architecture-biennale WEF_Baukultur.jpg Pritzker Prize-winning architect Alejandro Aravena speaks at a kickoff event for the World Economic Forum's Davos Baukultur Alliance held during the 18th Venice Architecture Biennale. RECORD Editor in Chief Josephine Minutillo introduced the event's keynote speakers and led a panel discussion. Photo courtesy Davos Baukultur Alliance WEF_Baukultur4.webp  Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu present adaptive reuse projects from their eponymous Shanghai-based architecture and design practice. Photo courtesy Davos Baukultur Alliance WEF_Baukultur3.webp Aravena and Christian Benimana, co-executive director and senior principal at MASS Design Group, at the kickoff event in Venice. Photo courtesy Davos Baukultur Alliance WEF_Baukultur2.webp Christian Benimana discusses MASS Design Group's sustainable building projects in Africa. Benimana leads the nonprofit architecture and design collective's Kigali, Rwanda, studio. Photo courtesy Davos Baukultur Alliance WEF_Baukultur_7.webp Alain Berset, President of the Swiss Confederation, provides opening remarks. Photo courtesy Davos Baukultur Alliance http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/15710 Wed, 08 Jun 2022 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/15710-new-design-initiative-aims-to-elevate-asian-and-pacific-islander-leadership In Fuzhou, China, a modern teahouse by Neri&Hu embraces an ancient structure within.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/15173 Fri, 04 Jun 2021 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/15173-the-relic-shelter-by-nerihu-design-and-research-office Relic-Shelter-01-B.jpg A copper-clad second floor hovers above a rammed-earth base. Photo © Hao Chen http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14657 Tue, 02 Jun 2020 00:05:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14657-kimpton-da-an-hotel-by-nerihu-design-and-research-office Kimpton-Da-An-Hotel-01-B.jpg Sculptural volumes in the lobby were carved around the mechanical equipment above the ceiling. The architects also made use of typical Taipei materials like white ceramic tile and off-the-shelf industrial brass tubing to enliven this space, and the entire hotel, with local color. Photo © Pedro Pegenaute Courtyards and picturesque paths meander through a unique Chinese getaway.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14045 Wed, 01 May 2019 09:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14045-tsingpu-yangzhou-retreat-by-nerihu-design-and-research-office 1905-Tsingpu-Yangzhou-Retreat-China-NeriHu-Design-and-Research-Office-01.jpg Constructing a wall of salvaged bricks brought order to the retreat's buildings. Photo © Pedro Pegenaute 1905-Tsingpu-Yangzhou-Retreat-China-NeriHu-Design-and-Research-Office-02.jpg A sunken sitting area in one courtyard holds a tree and reflecting pool like the entrance plaza. Photo © Pedro Pegenaute 1905-Tsingpu-Yangzhou-Retreat-China-NeriHu-Design-and-Research-Office-03.jpg Reception is located in one of several courtyards formed by the site’s maze of walled corridors. Photo © Pedro Pegenaute A drone’s-eye view of the retreat shows the rigor its wall imposes. Photo © Pedro Pegenaute The reception building features a sunken tearoom, one of the several spaces the architects carved out using excavation. Photo courtesy Neri&Hu Design and Research Office 1905-Tsingpu-Yangzhou-Retreat-China-NeriHu-Design-and-Research-Office-06.jpg The Lakeview guest rooms and baths open up to fresh air and stepped seating next to a reflecting pool. Photo © Pedro Pegenaute 1905-Tsingpu-Yangzhou-Retreat-China-NeriHu-Design-and-Research-Office-07.jpg The Lakeview guest rooms feature modern heating and cooling systems. Photo © Pedro Pegenaute 1905-Tsingpu-Yangzhou-Retreat-China-NeriHu-Design-and-Research-Office-08.jpg A Lakeview bathroom Photo courtesy Neri&Hu Design and Research Office An enclosed corridor leads to reception in one direction and a serene seating area surrounded by water in the other. Photo © Pedro Pegenaute Image courtesy Neri&Hu Design and Research Office A building’s industrial past fuses with a commercial addition for an innovative business in Beijing.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12944 Fri, 01 Sep 2017 08:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12944-the-garageb-automobile-service-center-by-nerihu-design-and-research-office Neri&Hu turned a 1950s missile factory into an automotive center. An elevator, accessible on a tree-lined street, brings cars to the upper floors. Photo © Pedro Pegenaute A frame of girders supports the building’s extension, where metal stairs wrapped in precision-cut steel lead to mezzanine café seating, offices, and meeting rooms. Photo © Pedro Pegenaute The building’s café attracts not only garage customers waiting for their cars but also people from the neighborhood and a variety of those from Beijing’s trendy set. Photo © Pedro Pegenaute The garage’s ground-floor workshop is a nod to its past, with the tracks where missiles were once assembled preserved. Photo © Pedro Pegenaute In the offices, Neri&Hu customized tables and built-in furniture, employing their favorite materials: wood, metal, leather, and concrete. Photo © Pedro Pegenaute The owner’s mezzanine-level office overlooks the ground-floor workshop; its glass and metalmesh walls allow light to move through the structure. Photo © Pedro Pegenaute Private offices, which also serve as waiting lounges for patrons, were created in the old factory wing behind steel-and-glass walls that separate them from an open office. Photo © Pedro Pegenaute Walnut treads on the metal stairs leading from the garage are a warm counterpoint to the utilitarian structure. Photo © Pedro Pegenaute Image courtesy Neri&Hu Design and Research Office Image courtesy Neri&Hu Design and Research Office Image courtesy Neri&Hu Design and Research Office Image courtesy Neri&Hu Design and Research Office Image courtesy Neri&Hu Design and Research Office The team that worked with Michael Graves on this Shanghai restaurant's original design reimagines the Beaux-Arts space.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12197 Wed, 01 Feb 2017 08:00:00 -0500 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12197-jean-georges-shanghai-by-nerihu In the reception area, the architects revealed old concrete columns from the original 1916 Union Assurance Building, but kept the surfaces unfinished and the capitals chipped to show the passage of time. Photo © Pedro Pegenaute Brass-framed glass partitions (left) define areas such as the bar/lounge, show kitchen, private dining areas, and restrooms. Photo © Pedro Pegenaute Neri&Hu designed most of the furnishings, including a new Bund series of furniture for the main dining room and a line of lights for the private dining rooms. Photo © Pedro Pegenaute Neri&Hu designed most of the furnishings, including a new Bund series of furniture for the main dining room and a line of lights for the private dining rooms. Photo © Pedro Pegenaute Photo © Pedro Pegenaute Photo © Pedro Pegenaute Photo © Pedro Pegenaute Photo © Pedro Pegenaute Photo © Pedro Pegenaute Photo © Pedro Pegenaute Photo © Pedro Pegenaute Photo © Pedro Pegenaute Photo © Pedro Pegenaute Photo © Pedro Pegenaute Image courtesy Neri&Hu Design and Research Office Inspired by glowing lanterns, Shanghai-based Neri&Hu has transformed an existing five-story building by Seoul-based architecture and planning firm IROJE into the flagship store for Korean skincare brand Sulwhasoo.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/11757 Fri, 01 Jul 2016 09:01:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/11757-sulwhasoo-flagship-store Photo © Pedro Pegenaute Photo © Pedro Pegenaute  Photo © Pedro Pegenaute  Photo © Pedro Pegenaute  Photo © Pedro Pegenaute  Photo © Pedro Pegenaute  Architects Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu channeled the classic 1950s American diner for their recent restaurant project in the former French Concession district of Shanghai.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/11726 Wed, 01 Jun 2016 08:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/11726-rachels-burger-by-nerihu-design-and-research Accordion-folding panels allow the restaurant to open completely to the street. Photo © Dirk Weiblen A skylight running the length of the dining space brings even more daylight in. Photo © Dirk Weiblen High common tables are fitted with custom steel-and-walnut pivoting stools. Photo © Dirk Weiblen With clear glazing on the top and frosted glass at the bottom, floor-to-ceiling window panels can be opened to the street. Photo © Dirk Weiblen When commissioned to convert a ramshackle lane house in Shanghai into a three-unit apartment building, local firm Neri&Hu Design and Research Office tried to maintain the traditional character of the 1930s-era building, while giving it a contemporary edge.

]]> 1309-rethinking-the-split-house-neri-and-hu-design-and-research-office.asp Mon, 16 Sep 2013 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/8435-rethinking-the-split-house Rethinking the Split House Rethinking the Split HouseNeri&Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiPhoto © Pedro Pegenaute Rethinking the Split House Rethinking the Split HouseNeri&Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiPhoto © Pedro Pegenaute Rethinking the Split House Rethinking the Split HouseNeri&Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiPhoto © Pedro Pegenaute Rethinking the Split House Rethinking the Split HouseNeri&Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiPhoto © Pedro Pegenaute Rethinking the Split House Rethinking the Split HouseNeri&Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiImage courtesy Neri&Hu Design and Research Office Rethinking the Split House Rethinking the Split HouseNeri&Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiImage courtesy Neri&Hu Design and Research Office Rethinking the Split House Rethinking the Split HouseNeri&Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiImage courtesy Neri&Hu Design and Research Office Rethinking the Split House Rethinking the Split HouseNeri&Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiImage courtesy Neri&Hu Design and Research Office Rethinking the Split House Rethinking the Split HouseNeri&Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiImage courtesy Neri&Hu Design and Research Office Rethinking the Split House Rethinking the Split HouseNeri&Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiImage courtesy Neri&Hu Design and Research Office Enter Mercato and your first impression is its rawness. The rough concrete, weathered steel, and exposed ductwork might seem out of place in Shanghai, a city where fine-dining interiors tend to be blingy.

]]> 1309-mercato-by-jean-georges-vongerichten-neri-and-hu-design-and-research-office.asp Mon, 16 Sep 2013 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/8290-mercato-by-jean-georges-vongerichten In the dining room, the architects stripped back the strata of finishes—built up after years of renovations—exposing structure and constantly playing the new against the old. Mercato by Jean-Georges VongerichtenNeri&Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiIn the dining room, the architects stripped back the strata of finishes—built up after years of renovations—exposing structure and constantly playing the new against the old.Photography by Pedro Pegenaute Evoking the historical context of the locale, the entrance features a Victorian plaster ceiling and reclaimed wood floor juxtaposed with a raw steel gate, graphic signage, and a suspended rail of glas Mercato by Jean-Georges VongerichtenNeri&Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiEvoking the historical context of the locale, the entrance features a Victorian plaster ceiling and reclaimed wood floor juxtaposed with a raw steel gate, graphic signage, and a suspended rail of glass lamps. Photography by Pedro Pegenaute Glass and wood display cases divide and define dining and lounge areas. Suspended glass bottles, jars, and flasks add layers of color and texture around windows and above the island seating; and techn Mercato by Jean-Georges VongerichtenNeri&Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiGlass and wood display cases divide and define dining and lounge areas. Suspended glass bottles, jars, and flasks add layers of color and texture around windows and above the island seating; and technical drawings of old ship parts, painted on concrete walls, pay homage to Shanghai’s history as a port.Photography by Pedro Pegenaute The main space recalls a street market, with a cocktail bar and pizza bar at its center—both encased in steel mesh and wire glass boxes with recycled wood canopies. A network of tube steel membe Mercato by Jean-Georges VongerichtenNeri&Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiThe main space recalls a street market, with a cocktail bar and pizza bar at its center—both encased in steel mesh and wire glass boxes with recycled wood canopies. A network of tube steel members, inspired by old butcher rails, intertwine with exposed ductwork and form a system for hanging shelving and lighting. Photography by Pedro Pegenaute The rugged architecture drove most of the product and graphic design. The one exception: comfortable mid-20th-century-style tables and seating, upholstered in black leather. Mercato by Jean-Georges VongerichtenNeri&Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiThe rugged architecture drove most of the product and graphic design. The one exception: comfortable mid-20th-century-style tables and seating, upholstered in black leather.Photography by Pedro Pegenaute Around the perimeter of the room, the walls are clad in white travertine to serve as a temporary departure from the otherwise earthy palette and to allow diners to focus on the breathtaking views. Mercato by Jean-Georges VongerichtenNeri&Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiAround the perimeter of the room, the walls are clad in white travertine to serve as a temporary departure from the otherwise earthy palette and to allow diners to focus on the breathtaking views.Photography by Pedro Pegenaute Mercato by Jean-Georges Vongerichten Mercato by Jean-Georges VongerichtenNeri&Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiImage courtesy Neri&Hu Design and Research office Neri&Hu finds a number of innovative ways to reinterpret old China for the 21st century.

]]> 1306-xian-westin-museum-hotel-nerihu-design-and-research-office.asp Sun, 16 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/7252-xian-westin-museum-hotel Xian Westin Museum Hotel One of four atria carved out from the 861,000-square-foot complex, this skylit space serves as a spatial oasis.   Photo by Pedro Pegenaute Xian Westin Museum Hotel Deeply set windows on the entry facade and other elevations emphasize the thickness of the building's envelope and link the project to the massive wall surrounding Xian's ancient core.   Photo by Pedro Pegenaute Xian Westin Museum Hotel On the south side, the architects cut a series of wide steps into the site to bring people from a nearby shopping mall to a museum in the hotel's basement. The sequence recalls the underground site of the city's famous Terra-Cotta Warriors.   Photo by Pedro Pegenaute Xian Westin Museum Hotel On the south side, the architects cut a series of wide steps into the site to bring people from a nearby shopping mall to a museum in the hotel's basement. The sequence recalls the underground site of the city's famous Terra-Cotta Warriors.   Photo by Pedro Pegenaute Xian Westin Museum Hotel On the south side, the architects cut a series of wide steps into the site to bring people from a nearby shopping mall to a museum in the hotel's basement. The sequence recalls the underground site of the city's famous Terra-Cotta Warriors.   Photo by Pedro Pegenaute Xian Westin Museum Hotel To organize the sprawling hotel and help guests navigate it, the architects laid out each of its four main blocks around a multistory atrium and arranged the blocks around an internal courtyard that brings in daylight and takes people to restaurants, a gym, and a spa in the basement.   Photo by Pedro Pegenaute Xian Westin Museum Hotel One of the atria serves as a café and lounge.   Photo by Pedro Pegenaute Xian Westin Museum Hotel Image Courtesy Pedro Pegenaute Xian Westin Museum Hotel Image Courtesy Pedro Pegenaute While glittering new high-rises sprout everywhere in Shanghai, gems of Western-style architecture from the early 20th century can still be found throughout the city. 

]]> 1302-design-republic-commune-neri-and-hu-design-and-research-office.asp Fri, 15 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/7408-design-republic-commune Neri&Hu cleaned up and preserved the original brick exterior, while installing new glass and dramatically reconfiguring the interiors. The old police station was built by the British in the second decade of the 20th century, then was used in a number of different capacities until it became an elementary school. Photo courtesy of Neri&Hu The architects set up a series of sharp contrasts inside between clean new surfaces and decaying old ones, creating a sly commentary on the passage of time and the role of architecture in capturing it. Although city officials wanted NHDRO to remove an addition built illegally years ago, the architects convinced them it was OK to keep the old columns, wrapped with tall panels of glass, to create new retail space. An addition built illegally years ago. Photo courtesy Neri&Hu The architects kept some old elements such as doors and signage. The architects carved out a multistory space for a corridor from cramped existing areas. Old building during renovation. Photo courtesy Neri&Hu By cutting away parts of old floors, Neri&Hu was able to create large interior volumes that help organize showrooms and other spaces around them. An old entry lobby before renovation. Photo courtesy Neri&Hu While the architects created a number of flowing spaces, they also kept the notion of a series of rooms and a procession through them. Neri says he wanted people to move through the building as if through a museum, viewing “artworks” along the way. Photo © Dirk Weiblen Image courtesy Neri&Hu Image courtesy Neri&Hu Image courtesy Neri&Hu Image courtesy Neri&Hu Image courtesy Neri&Hu While it is the view that draws most visitors to the New Heights Restaurant, located on the top floor of the Renaissance-style Three on the Bund building in Shanghai, there is now one more reason to make a stop—a striking new bathroom design by Shanghai-based Neri & Hu Design and Research Office (NHDRO). 

]]> new-heights-restaurant.asp Sun, 16 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/8642-new-heights-restaurant-bathrooms New Heights Restaurant Bathrooms New Heights Restaurant BathroomsNeri & Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghai, ChinaPhoto © Shen Zhonghai New Heights Restaurant Bathrooms New Heights Restaurant BathroomsNeri & Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghai, ChinaPhoto © Shen Zhonghai New Heights Restaurant Bathrooms New Heights Restaurant BathroomsNeri & Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghai, ChinaPhoto © Shen Zhonghai New Heights Restaurant Bathrooms New Heights Restaurant BathroomsNeri & Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghai, ChinaPhoto © Shen Zhonghai New Heights Restaurant Bathrooms New Heights Restaurant BathroomsNeri & Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghai, ChinaPhoto © Shen Zhonghai New Heights Restaurant Bathrooms New Heights Restaurant BathroomsNeri & Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghai, ChinaImage courtesy Neri & Hu Design and Research Office Collaboration was essential to the design of the hospitality spaces at The Opposite House, a boutique hotel in Beijing’s Sanlitun area.

]]> the-opposite-house.asp Mon, 16 Jul 2012 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/6803-china-awards-2012-the-opposite-house Client: Swire Properties The Opposite HouseNeri & Hu Design and Research Office Client: GSwire PropertiesBeijingClient: Swire PropertiesPhoto © Shen Zhonghai Client: Swire Properties The Opposite HouseNeri & Hu Design and Research Office Client: GSwire PropertiesBeijingClient: Swire PropertiesPhoto © Shen Zhonghai Client: Swire Properties The Opposite HouseNeri & Hu Design and Research Office Client: GSwire PropertiesBeijingClient: Swire PropertiesPhoto © Shen Zhonghai Client: Swire Properties The Opposite HouseNeri & Hu Design and Research Office Client: GSwire PropertiesBeijingClient: Swire PropertiesPhoto © Shen Zhonghai Client: Swire Properties The Opposite HouseNeri & Hu Design and Research Office Client: GSwire PropertiesBeijingClient: Swire PropertiesPhoto © Shen Zhonghai Client: Swire Properties The Opposite HouseNeri & Hu Design and Research Office Client: GSwire PropertiesBeijingClient: Swire PropertiesPhoto © Michael Weber Client: Swire Properties The Opposite HouseNeri & Hu Design and Research Office Client: GSwire PropertiesBeijingClient: Swire PropertiesPhoto © Derryck Menere With China experiencing large-scale reconstruction throughout the country, a great deal of its historic architecture is being replaced by uniform rows of bland, new buildings.

]]> waterhouse-at-south-bund.asp Mon, 16 Jul 2012 12:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/6804-china-awards-2012-waterhouse-at-south-bund Client: Cameron Holdings Hotel Management Limited Client: Cameron Holdings Hotel Management Limited Client: Cameron Holdings Hotel Management Limited Client: Cameron Holdings Hotel Management Limited Client: Cameron Holdings Hotel Management Limited Client: Cameron Holdings Hotel Management Limited Photo © Derryck Menere Client: Cameron Holdings Hotel Management Limited Photo © Derryck Menere Client: Cameron Holdings Hotel Management Limited Photo © Derryck Menere the_waterhouse.asp Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/8259-the-waterhouse-at-south-bund Each of the hotel's 19 guest rooms has its own layout and quirks. As a whole, the rooms range from 300 to about 645 square feet, and they all share a low-key palette of materials and components, inclu The Waterhouse at South BundNeri & Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiEach of the hotel's 19 guest rooms has its own layout and quirks. As a whole, the rooms range from 300 to about 645 square feet, and they all share a low-key palette of materials and components, including concrete sinks, wood floors, and tinted-glass partitions for the bathrooms.Image courtesy NEHDRO The architects retained the faded glory of the building's facades and added a roof garden and fourth-floor spaces wrapped in Cor-Ten. The Waterhouse at South BundNeri & Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiThe architects retained the faded glory of the building's facades and added a roof garden and fourth-floor spaces wrapped in Cor-Ten.Image courtesy NEHDRO Wood salvaged from the building's old roof clads the outside surface of shutters facing a courtyard; mirrors on the inside reflect views. The Waterhouse at South BundNeri & Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiWood salvaged from the building's old roof clads the outside surface of shutters facing a courtyard; mirrors on the inside reflect views.Image courtesy NEHDRO The battered fabric of the old building gives the lobby a sense of history, while the window of a guest room above the reception desk offers an unusual view into the space. The Waterhouse at South BundNeri & Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiThe battered fabric of the old building gives the lobby a sense of history, while the window of a guest room above the reception desk offers an unusual view into the space.Image courtesy NEHDRO From the roof terrace, visitors face views of the Huangpu River and the Pudong district with its landmark buildings, such as Kohn Pedersen Fox's 1,615-foot-tall World Financial Center. The Waterhouse at South BundNeri & Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiFrom the roof terrace, visitors face views of the Huangpu River and the Pudong district with its landmark buildings, such as Kohn Pedersen Fox's 1,615-foot-tall World Financial Center.Image courtesy NEHDRO Rusting steel cladding the front doorway and canopy allude to the hotel's industrial heritage as a set of buildings in the Shilupu district where docks and warehouses were erected in the first part of The Waterhouse at South BundNeri & Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiRusting steel cladding the front doorway and canopy allude to the hotel's industrial heritage as a set of buildings in the Shilupu district where docks and warehouses were erected in the first part of the 20th century.Image courtesy NEHDRO A ramp above the front door negotiates the different floor levels of the old buildings comprising the hotel. The Waterhouse at South BundNeri & Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiA ramp above the front door negotiates the different floor levels of the old buildings comprising the hotel.Image courtesy NEHDRO A skylight runs above a set of bridges connecting a corridor to guest rooms on the second and third floors. The Waterhouse at South BundNeri & Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiA skylight runs above a set of bridges connecting a corridor to guest rooms on the second and third floors.Image courtesy NEHDRO New black-painted steel elements provide structural support for the three-story-high lobby and shore up portions of the old buildings that needed reinforcement. The Waterhouse at South BundNeri & Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiNew black-painted steel elements provide structural support for the three-story-high lobby and shore up portions of the old buildings that needed reinforcement.Image courtesy NEHDRO The roof terrace includes several concrete-lined seating 'pods' alternating with small gardens. The extensive terrace overlooks the hotel's central courtyard and features a clear polycarbonate bar top The Waterhouse at South BundNeri & Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiThe roof terrace includes several concrete-lined seating 'pods' alternating with small gardens. The extensive terrace overlooks the hotel's central courtyard and features a clear polycarbonate bar top (not shown) that doubles as a skylight for the floors below.Image courtesy NEHDRO In the bedrooms, the architects designed built-in desks, cabinets, and other furnishings for walls with new white surfaces. Wide-plank oak floors and oak beds complement the sleek built-ins, adding a The Waterhouse at South BundNeri & Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiIn the bedrooms, the architects designed built-in desks, cabinets, and other furnishings for walls with new white surfaces. Wide-plank oak floors and oak beds complement the sleek built-ins, adding a touch of contemporary warmth.Image courtesy NEHDRO Communal tables made of salvaged wood and floors of gray brick work with Solo chairs designed by NHDRO in the restaurant. Tables in the courtyard extend the restaurant outdoors, and a pair of private The Waterhouse at South BundNeri & Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiCommunal tables made of salvaged wood and floors of gray brick work with Solo chairs designed by NHDRO in the restaurant. Tables in the courtyard extend the restaurant outdoors, and a pair of private dining rooms (not shown) offer alternative spaces for small parties and events.Image courtesy NEHDRO A hallway introduces guests to the project's layering of history ' with new structural-steel elements, large windows, and Cor-Ten cladding complementing the building's old masonry fabric. The Waterhouse at South BundNeri & Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiA hallway introduces guests to the project's layering of history ' with new structural-steel elements, large windows, and Cor-Ten cladding complementing the building's old masonry fabric.Image courtesy NEHDRO A few guest rooms have raised viewing platforms, while others (not shown) have private decks or balconies. Along walls with the building's original fabric, the architects specified a combination of ne The Waterhouse at South BundNeri & Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiA few guest rooms have raised viewing platforms, while others (not shown) have private decks or balconies. Along walls with the building's original fabric, the architects specified a combination of new and antique freestanding furnishings, but no built-ins.Image courtesy NEHDRO The Waterhouse at South Bund The Waterhouse at South BundNeri & Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiImage courtesy NEHDRO The Waterhouse at South Bund The Waterhouse at South BundNeri & Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiImage courtesy NEHDRO The Waterhouse at South Bund The Waterhouse at South BundNeri & Hu Design and Research OfficeShanghaiImage courtesy NEHDRO Neri and Hu renovated and reskinned a five-story office building on a tree-lined street in the French Concession of Shanghai to create a new headquarters for their architecture firm and their retail furnishings company, Design Republic.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12225 Sat, 01 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12225-china-awards-2010-the-black-box Photo courtesy Neri & Hu Photo © Jane Smith Photo © Jane Smith Photo © Jane Smith This husband-and-wife-led firm is crossing boundaries between disciplines and cultures.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14211 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0500 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14211-design-vanguard-2009-neri-hu-design-and-research-office For their Neri & Hu Collection, the architects have designed products ranging from tea cups and salt-and-pepper shakers to tables and chairs. The objects combine clean modern lines with an easy-going, playful sensibility. Photo courtesy Neri & Hu The architects renovated and reskinned a five-story office building on a tree-lined street in the French Concession to create a new headquarters for their architecture firm and their furnishings retail company, Design Republic. They clad the ground floor with wood and inset large windows and glass doors to provide access to a new Design Republic gallery and store. (The original store is on the Bund.) “We approached the store as an extension of the street,” states Neri. Photo © Derryck Menere The architects renovated and reskinned a five-story office building on a tree-lined street in the French Concession to create a new headquarters for their architecture firm and their furnishings retail company, Design Republic. They clad the ground floor with wood and inset large windows and glass doors to provide access to a new Design Republic gallery and store. (The original store is on the Bund.) “We approached the store as an extension of the street,” states Neri. Photo © Derryck Menere The architects renovated and reskinned a five-story office building on a tree-lined street in the French Concession to create a new headquarters for their architecture firm and their furnishings retail company, Design Republic. They clad the ground floor with wood and inset large windows and glass doors to provide access to a new Design Republic gallery and store. (The original store is on the Bund.) “We approached the store as an extension of the street,” states Neri. Photo © Derryck Menere The architects renovated and reskinned a five-story office building on a tree-lined street in the French Concession to create a new headquarters for their architecture firm and their furnishings retail company, Design Republic. They clad the ground floor with wood and inset large windows and glass doors to provide access to a new Design Republic gallery and store. (The original store is on the Bund.) “We approached the store as an extension of the street,” states Neri. Photo © Derryck Menere Set in the basement of The Opposite House, a boutique hotel designed by Kengo Kuma, Punk combines heavy materials such as blackened bronze with smoky-glass panels to create an edgy bar targeted at club kids who have grown up and become more affluent. The architects enclosed the bar with a double-layer screen made of perforated bronze plates on the outside and glass and wood on the inside. Colored light between the screen’s two layers and wood shelves and booths add warmth to the otherwise industrial palette of materials. Photo © Derryck Menere Set in the basement of The Opposite House, a boutique hotel designed by Kengo Kuma, Punk combines heavy materials such as blackened bronze with smoky-glass panels to create an edgy bar targeted at club kids who have grown up and become more affluent. The architects enclosed the bar with a double-layer screen made of perforated bronze plates on the outside and glass and wood on the inside. Colored light between the screen’s two layers and wood shelves and booths add warmth to the otherwise industrial palette of materials. Photo © Derryck Menere Set in the basement of The Opposite House, a boutique hotel designed by Kengo Kuma, Punk combines heavy materials such as blackened bronze with smoky-glass panels to create an edgy bar targeted at club kids who have grown up and become more affluent. The architects enclosed the bar with a double-layer screen made of perforated bronze plates on the outside and glass and wood on the inside. Colored light between the screen’s two layers and wood shelves and booths add warmth to the otherwise industrial palette of materials. Photo © Derryck Menere In this entry to a design competition, the architects envisioned the project as a “new landscape” with a series of buildings floating above expansive pools of water that serve as an abstract element separating the new from the old. The billowing facades of the buildings reflect and refract light rippling from the surrounding water. Visitors enter the complex from below ground, one level below the datum of water, then can gather in plazas and ascend grand stairs leading to the buildings. Neri and Hu see the new landscape as comprising the ground, the water, and the clouds. Rendering courtesy Neri & Hu In this entry to a design competition, the architects envisioned the project as a “new landscape” with a series of buildings floating above expansive pools of water that serve as an abstract element separating the new from the old. The billowing facades of the buildings reflect and refract light rippling from the surrounding water. Visitors enter the complex from below ground, one level below the datum of water, then can gather in plazas and ascend grand stairs leading to the buildings. Neri and Hu see the new landscape as comprising the ground, the water, and the clouds. Rendering courtesy Neri & Hu In this entry to a design competition, the architects envisioned the project as a “new landscape” with a series of buildings floating above expansive pools of water that serve as an abstract element separating the new from the old. The billowing facades of the buildings reflect and refract light rippling from the surrounding water. Visitors enter the complex from below ground, one level below the datum of water, then can gather in plazas and ascend grand stairs leading to the buildings. Neri and Hu see the new landscape as comprising the ground, the water, and the clouds. Rendering courtesy Neri & Hu The architects envisioned this restaurant in The Opposite House hotel (on the same level as Punk Bar) as a clearing in the forest and wrapped it with a wooden screen evocative of trees. Inside the main dining room, they kept the ambient light level low and suspended naked bulbs at various heights to create abstract “birds” flying above the tables. A raw bar with a long concrete counter anchors one side of the room and draws attention with a large mirror surrounded by a purple-lit wall. The mirror allows diners at the bar to watch the chefs from in front and behind as they prepare dishes. Beyond the main room, five private dining rooms provide an alternative experience, their walls and floors clad in warm oak. These smaller spaces also offer customers a hint of the city beyond the forest — in the form of glass clerestory panels printed with urban scenes and lit from behind. Photo © Derryck Menere The architects envisioned this restaurant in The Opposite House hotel (on the same level as Punk Bar) as a clearing in the forest and wrapped it with a wooden screen evocative of trees. Inside the main dining room, they kept the ambient light level low and suspended naked bulbs at various heights to create abstract “birds” flying above the tables. A raw bar with a long concrete counter anchors one side of the room and draws attention with a large mirror surrounded by a purple-lit wall. The mirror allows diners at the bar to watch the chefs from in front and behind as they prepare dishes. Beyond the main room, five private dining rooms provide an alternative experience, their walls and floors clad in warm oak. These smaller spaces also offer customers a hint of the city beyond the forest — in the form of glass clerestory panels printed with urban scenes and lit from behind. Photo © Derryck Menere The architects envisioned this restaurant in The Opposite House hotel (on the same level as Punk Bar) as a clearing in the forest and wrapped it with a wooden screen evocative of trees. Inside the main dining room, they kept the ambient light level low and suspended naked bulbs at various heights to create abstract “birds” flying above the tables. A raw bar with a long concrete counter anchors one side of the room and draws attention with a large mirror surrounded by a purple-lit wall. The mirror allows diners at the bar to watch the chefs from in front and behind as they prepare dishes. Beyond the main room, five private dining rooms provide an alternative experience, their walls and floors clad in warm oak. These smaller spaces also offer customers a hint of the city beyond the forest — in the form of glass clerestory panels printed with urban scenes and lit from behind. Photo © Derryck Menere At this flagship store for the Pedder Red shoe brand in Hong Kong’s Central district, Neri and Hu designed a two-story wooden box that provides storage space while also grabbing attention. The architects clad the box with strips of stained-oak arranged in a woven pattern to evoke the stitching found on shoes. Deep niches on the outside of the box are painted red and provide display space for merchandise, while the red continues on the inside where a spiral stair leads to the second level. At most stores the storage area is hidden away, but here it takes center stage. The architects say they wanted to break with retail conventions and make the storage box the heart of the store. Photo © Derryck Menere Although a small commission, this memorial site for a family brings together many elements that run through Neri and Hu’s body of work — in particular the use of architecture and design to interpret culture. Here they apply their skill at shaping objects and designing furniture to create markers and pavers set within a bamboo grove at Suzhou Cemetery. Carving out a path in the grove, they establish a simple but elegiac procession leading to an outdoor room where an angled metal wall honors the family’s dead and looks onto a small lawn where people can gather and remember. Photo © Derryck Menere Although a small commission, this memorial site for a family brings together many elements that run through Neri and Hu’s body of work — in particular the use of architecture and design to interpret culture. Here they apply their skill at shaping objects and designing furniture to create markers and pavers set within a bamboo grove at Suzhou Cemetery. Carving out a path in the grove, they establish a simple but elegiac procession leading to an outdoor room where an angled metal wall honors the family’s dead and looks onto a small lawn where people can gather and remember. Photo © Derryck Menere The Shoe Box, flagship store for chic Pedder Red shoes, was designed to captivate the brand’s image through interior architecture.

]]> http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12343 Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400 https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/12343-the-shoe-box-pedder-red-flagship-store Photo © Steve Mok Photo © Steve Mok Photo © Steve Mok Image courtesy NHDRO Image courtesy NHDRO