BLUETOWN · AROMA TOWN || This Shanghai Resort Embodies an Idyllic Lifestyle of Florals and Tranquility
You can see the city lights’ pollution scattering and dimming behind you as you drive further away toward the suburbs.
You leave behind the feeling of compression between soaring skyscrapers in a crowded city and venture towards an idyllic escape where a multi-layered, immersive experiential getaway awaits.
The clubhouse of Shanghai Aroma Town, located in Zhujing Town, Jinshan District, Shanghai, divides the clubhouse into three aromatic regions: the aromatic area with a focus on floral scents, the socializing area in the separate tea room, and the dining area centred around culinary experiences. The three areas are arranged in a progression from public to private themes.
The floral display and aroma spa area is an open space for the public to engage.
The Aroma Spa area embraces guests in a sensorial experience.
FLOWER | AROMATIC DISPLAY AND EXPERIENCE
In this public socializing space, clean lines and pristine walls are paired with earthy tones and materials, creating a serene space where one can achieve mental relaxation. Natural light filters through the semi-transparent blinds, casting a warm glow on the central table where an incense-making machine, glass bottles and florals invite guests to create their own aromas.
Artisanal furniture reinforces the elegant ambiance of the tranquil space. Travertine is added to bring a touch of calmness and relaxation, contrasted against the use of wood. A floral arrangement suspended from the ceiling hovers above the incense-making area, completing a whimsical scene and immersing guests in a fairytale-like escape.
The spa area and guest rooms are enveloped in a darker colour palette, with a stronger contrast between light and dark, inviting guests to unwind and slowly let their eyelids flutter shut into a rejuvenating slumber as they enjoy a massage.
The Tea House is designed for a tranquil social experience.
TEA | SOCIAL LIVING ROOM
With a slightly darker material palette than the aromatic floral space, this room embodies a key social activity in Chinese culture—drinking tea together. Did you know that friends and family social gatherings are called yum cha? This translates literally ‘to drink tea’.
The room design uses traditional Chinese-style brush painting as a starting point, with various design elements echoing the zen theme. Wood is the primary material used, while natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows maintains sightlines to the outdoors. Armchairs invite guests to lean back while low bar tables amplify the feeling of zen. Exquisite utensils emphasize the sense of ritual and ceremony associated with tea.
The Social Living Room interior design embodies the calming properties of nature.
FOOD | PRIVATE DINING
The Private Dining Room continues the elegance of the previous space, outfitted with dark wood flooring and complementary materials to create a natural, intimate, open, yet quiet private area. The tea room in this area is designed to highlight the concept of leisurely tea drinking in the woods, creating a gathering scene of 'three or two friends drinking together.
Natural elements are integrated into the most private of spaces here. The use of light to establish a mood is a central theme throughout the spaces, bringing guests closer to the natural landscape. In ancient Chinese culture, it was common for hosts to welcome their guests into their homes by serving tea outdoors, surrounded by a water feature in a traditional gazebo.
This modern interpretation of how the Chinese enjoy a cup of tea with friends is refreshing and maintains the theme of privacy and proximity to nature.
The Tea Room is accented with artistic floral arrangements and simplistic yet elegant furnishings.
The trio of spaces and the supporting theme of florals through visuals and scents combine to present the perfect holiday getaway. One where guests could forget about their issues, and choose to indulge in social activities of varying degrees and scale. A solo mindful meditation in the tea room with an aromatic oolong or pu’erh tea would be an exquisite escape.
The private dining room utilizes dark wood and natural light to create an intimate and welcoming space.
PROJECT DETAILS
Project Name: Bluetown·Aroma Town
Project Location: Floral Kingdom Ecological Park, Xiujing Village, Zhujing Town, Jinshan District, Shanghai
Project Area: 650㎡
Completion: August 2022
Type of Project: Clubhouse / Showroom
Interior Design: WJ STUDIO
Principal Designer: Hu Zhile
Design Team: JinMin, Zhu Chen Shaohua, Li Dongxian, Ye Zi, Zhou Shuyi, Yang Lilian, Luo Renwei, Hu Lulu
Photographer: Zhang Xi, Hanmo Vision-Zhang Jianing
