Cloud Garden, designed by GFD Studio, in Shanghai, Sheshan, is inspired by the beauty of mountains in the distance. The building sits on the land rather than standing out. An enclosed courtyard brings in a natural feel. The design is spread across two levels, starting with a welcoming entrance, moving into spaces for gathering and dining, and then leading to more private areas. In this way, the calm of the mountains carries through into everyday life.
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- Photo credit: Hanmo Vision Ye Song
Here, the entrance foyer is wrapped in dark wood veneers that subtly reflects light spilling in from the courtyard. Above, a softly recessed circular ceiling gives this narrow space a moment of calm. Light drifts along the edges, catching the stone’s warm, delicate texture as it moves between light and shadow. Beyond the entrance, the living room opens up generously, giving the eye plenty to take in. Warm, pale Italian travertine covers the walls and columns with a soft matte finish, giving the space visual interest and character.
Against it, a bold red travertine feature wall anchors the room. Its deep, ochre-red grain feels as solid and weighty as a mineral seam. Large windows draw the courtyard’s trees and changing sky into the room. The corridor does not give everything away at once. Walls shift, doorframes step in and out, and light dims and brightens gradually, gently pulling one’s gaze deeper into the home.
In the dining area, the atmosphere softens around a long table. Overhead, a pendant light sets the tone, with layers of translucent stone diffusing the light into a warm, muted glow. One wall is covered in textured leather, paired with dark oak trim that grounds the whole composition. Daylight pours through floor-to-ceiling windows and lingers warmly across the table. In the stairwell, pendant lights cascade downward like a string of light drawn out over time, adding depth and motion to the space. The handrail curves continuously, softening every turn.
Heading downstairs, the cigar lounge turns everything inwards, into a calm and grounded mood. Dark timber and matte metal wrap the space, creating a sense of intimate enclosure. The floral foyer offers one connection with nature. A circular ceiling draws inwards in layered rings, gathering light softly along its edges. A single floral arrangement sits at the centre, understated and elegant.
Beyond it, the art corridor unfolds beneath a softly curved ceiling, with delicate floral patterns gently lit from above. At the end of the corridor, a wall of Victoria Green marble comes into view, its natural veining carrying the imprint of time.
In the banquet hall, a vaulted ceiling stretches overhead like wings, creating a calm, expansive presence. A pendant light hangs like a blooming crown, casting a gentle glow over the round table below. Black-gold marble sweeps across the walls and fireplace like embers that never fully fade, while a green stone accent meets the fireplace’s warm glow. Underfoot, beige marble flooring grounds the space, making the round table feel like a calm island. Clean lines and warm tones set the mood in the entertainment room. Here, deep red velvet wraps the walls like aged wine, adding richness and warmth. For this stunning residence, the outside world is brought indoors, and elevated with an eye to attention that impresses at every turn.
