Silver Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2026
Echo Oriental Showroom
by Xiyao Wang
- A' Design Award 2026 Silver Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Awarded April 15, 2026
- CLIENT: Extended Play Lab
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 13,448
- Verification code C3CF6B683A · Verify this award
About Echo Oriental Showroom
Echo Oriental is a design reinterprets traditional Chinese cosmology through a contemporary architectural lens. A central double height sand table area serves as the heart of the project, positioned beneath a celestial stretch ceiling that symbolizes the sky over a square floor plan. A signature golden vaulted ceiling with leaf embossing adds tactile richness, while a palette of green marble and warm wood facilitates a sensory dialogue. The spatial choreography utilizes compression and release to guide visitors through a progressive ritual of thresholds.
Situated within the evolving discourse of contemporary interior design that seeks to harmonize Eastern aesthetic philosophies with modernist spatial principles, Xiyao Wang's Echo Oriental Showroom emerges as a sophisticated meditation on the relationship between natural forms and architectural geometry. The design appears to engage with longstanding traditions of screen-based spatial division found throughout Asian architectural heritage while reinterpreting these elements through a distinctly contemporary material vocabulary of warm metals and refined wood joinery. The sculptural ceiling installation, with its intricate network of organic linear patterns, may reference the philosophical concept of interconnectedness found in various Eastern thought traditions, where branching forms evoke simultaneously the neural pathways of consciousness and the spreading canopy of ancient trees. Technical achievement manifests in the seamless integration of this dramatic overhead element with the restrained elegance of the surrounding architecture—the warm copper tones complementing rather than competing with the honeyed wood paneling and neutral furnishings below. The designer demonstrates particular sensitivity to the phenomenology of threshold and transition, evidenced by the luminous corridor visible through the central aperture, which invites contemplation of spaces beyond while maintaining the intimate enclosure of the primary volume. Compositional intelligence reveals itself in the careful calibration of symmetry and asymmetry, where the bilateral arrangement of screens and furnishings provides formal order while subtle variations in plant placement and decorative objects introduce the vital irregularity that prevents stasis. The palette selection—ranging from warm metallics through natural wood tones to soft neutrals—creates an environment that feels simultaneously elevated and welcoming, suggesting a space designed for meaningful encounter rather than mere transaction. One might consider how this interior negotiates the tension between display and dwelling, commerce and contemplation, inviting viewers to reflect upon their own experiences of spaces that aspire to transcend their functional purposes.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Echo Oriental is a 400sqm exhibition center that redefines spatial ritual through a rigorous intersection of North-South and East-West axes. It distinguishes itself by seamlessly integrating traditional Chinese cosmology - the "Tian Yuan Di Fang" (Round Sky, Square Earth) concept - within a contemporary neo-luxury aesthetic. Unique features include a double-height sand table area under a celestial light and a golden vaulted ceiling with leaf embossing, creating a high-quality sensory dialogue.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- 400 square meters area. Single floor.
- Tags
- Exhibition Design, Sales Office, Oriental Aesthetics, Tian Yuan Di Fang, Axial Symmetry, Neo-Luxury, Botanical Motif, Green Marble, Architectural Ritual, Longgang, Spatial Narrative, Interior Design.
- Production Technology
- Conceived through hand sketch, perfected in Rhino 3D and rendered with Enscape and Photoshop
- Design Challenge
- The primary challenge was manifesting a grand, ceremonial architectural ritual within a compact 400sqm footprint. Overcoming this required precise axial planning to resolve complex circulation patterns without sacrificing the sense of scale. Realizing the golden vaulted ceiling with leaf embossing involved a technical balance between artisanal textures and modern production. The project successfully navigated the obstacle of blending historic cosmology with current luxury market demands.
- Project Duration
- Project finished in February 2026, and is located in Longgang, Wenzhou, China
- Operation Flow
- The project operates through a progressive "step-by-step" ritualistic flow. Visitors interact with the space via a series of thresholds: from a high-contrast entry lobby to a monumental central core. The spatial interaction is defined by rhythm—alternating between the compression of deep, shaded corridors and the release of the bright, green-marble hall. Strategic "scenic openings" in VIP areas facilitate visual porosity, allowing the narrative of nature to permeate every interaction.
- Research
- This project utilized Applied Spatial Psychology and Cultural Semiotics research to redefine real estate exhibition standards. Objectives focused on balancing ritualistic ceremonial order with botanical fluidity. Methodology involved Axial Mapping and Comparative Materiality studies. Data was collected via site-specific environmental analysis and historical research into "Tian Yuan Di Fang" cosmology. Participants included local design stakeholders and potential residents. Results showed a high-efficiency circulation flow that significantly reduced visitor fatigue. Insights reveal that "spatial compression and release" triggers emotional engagement. This research impacts the industry by demonstrating that design-driven cultural storytelling directly increases commercial perceived value and social community pride.
- Inspiration
- The design is inspired by the organic fluidity of the adjacent Taihu Park, translating botanical motifs into architectural curves. Motivated by the tension between heritage and modernity, the project explores the "Echo" of ancient Oriental philosophy - specifically the harmony of the circle and square - within a high-end commercial context. Research into "spatial compression and release" informs the transition from intimate, deep corridors to expansive, light-filled grand halls.
- Image Credits
- All Renderings by Xiyao Wang
Colors of Echo Oriental Showroom
Grand Interview about Echo Oriental Showroom
To balance handcraft with machine precision, we utilized parametric modeling to map the leaf patterns—inspired by the adjacent Taihu Park—ensuring the organic motif seamlessly conformed to the vault's curvature. These digital blueprints were translated into custom-stamped aluminum panels to achieve crisp, uniform structural lines. The panels were then finished by hand using a meticulous gold-leafing technique. This hybridized approach allowed us to eliminate the coldness of mass production while maintaining absolute structural accuracy.When a visitor transitions into the lobby bar, this ceiling communicates a sense of protective shelter and timeless luxury. It functions as a warm, shimmering canopy that softens the geometric constraints of the interior. By reflecting light downward in a diffused, golden glow, it immediately signals that the space is not merely a commercial office, but a sanctuary rooted in the poetry of nature.
Commercial exhibition spaces often overwhelm visitors with continuous, high-stimulus marketing data, which triggers cognitive fatigue. Our research in Applied Spatial Psychology led us to introduce a deliberate "sensory reset." We achieved this by funneling visitors through a low, dim, and deeply toned transitional corridor (compression) immediately following the monumental sand table area. This intentional drop in scale resets the visitor's psychological baseline before releasing them into the bright, double-height grand hall bar (release).The physical impact was immediate. Instead of rushing through the layout, visitors visibly slowed their pace upon entering the compressed zone, dropping their voices to a whisper. When they emerged into the "release" of the light-filled lobby bar, their body language opened up. This psychological transition fostered a significantly higher emotional readiness, lengthening dwell time and transforming high-pressure sales conversations into relaxed, natural dialogues.
Reactivating a concept as culturally heavy as "Tian Yuan Di Fang" (Round Sky, Square Earth) requires avoiding literal historic pastiche. We treated the philosophy not as an ornamental motif, but as an organizational framework. By translating the "sky" into a minimalist, circular soft-membrane stretch ceiling and the "earth" into a clean, square floor plate anchoring the real estate model, we honored the ancient cosmological balance using entirely contemporary geometric lines and lighting tech.The tension is most powerfully felt at the exact intersection of the sand table zone. Here, cutting-edge, future-forward real estate models sit directly beneath an ancient cosmological metaphor. This juxtaposition proves that traditional philosophy is not an obsolete historical relic; rather, it is a highly functional tool capable of anchoring hyper-modern commercial real estate within a deeper cultural narrative.
Winning the Silver A' Design Award in the Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design category provides a vital global platform to challenge a common misconception: that contemporary minimalism must be inherently Western or sterile.I hope the international design community receives Echo Oriental as a case study in how ancient spatial philosophies can solve modern design problems. Oriental philosophy is inherently sustainable and psychological—it is about the harmony between human interiority and the external environment. I want global practitioners to see that drawing from regional heritage is not about decorating a surface, but about utilizing a time-tested spatial choreography that enriches the human experience.
The breakthrough occurred when we finalized the exact alignment of the sightlines at the intersection of the North-South and East-West axes. Initially, we worried the 400-square-meter footprint would feel restrictive. However, the moment we staggered the thresholds—hiding the VIP lounge behind a green marble feature wall and adding strategic scenic openings—the layout instantly unlocked.This project revealed that monumentality is completely independent of raw square footage. True grandeur is a psychological construct born from contrast and tempo. By controlling what the eye sees and what it is denied through a structured sequence of thresholds, a relatively compact footprint can feel vast, deep, and infinitely layered. Perceived monumentality is not about size; it is about the depth of the journey.
Beginning with a hand sketch affords an immediate, unmediated connection to spatial emotion and human scale that digital tools simply cannot replicate early on. Software inherently demands inputs—dimensions, coordinates, and boundaries—which forces a designer to think about geometric perfection before understanding atmospheric intent. A sketch captures the raw fluid energy of an idea, allowing me to explore the feeling of a spatial threshold, the weight of a shadow, or the sweeping gesture of a curve with complete freedom.The transition from sketch to 3D software was less about correction and more about translation. The loose, evocative lines of the initial sketches defined the emotional target—such as the desired drama of the central vault. Moving into digital modeling allowed us to test those intuitive gestures against rigorous material tolerances, ensuring that the complex geometry of the leaf-embossed gold panels conformed perfectly to the structural arc without losing the poetic fluidity of the initial drawing.
To ensure the connection to Taihu Park remained emotionally resonant without becoming a literal caricature, we relied heavily on spatial abstraction and phenomenological cues. Visitors do not need to know the specific geography of the park to subconsciously respond to its presence. The connection is embedded in the environment’s somatic qualities: the deep, forest-like tranquility of the green marble wainscoting, the fluid curves of the walls, and the dappled, golden illumination cast by the embossed ceiling.We essentially translated the exterior landscape into an interior micro-climate of textures and light. By replicating the atmospheric qualities of nature—the feeling of walking beneath a dense forest canopy or standing beside still water—the space communicates a sense of serene shelter. It bypasses conscious analysis and directly targets the visitor's emotional memory, evoking peace and belonging from the moment they enter.
Operating from a global design capital like New York while executing a project in Wenzhou created a highly productive conceptual detachment. Rather than getting bogged down in localized, fleeting commercial trends or surface-level pastiche, the geographic distance forced Extended Play Lab to look at Chinese cosmological traditions through a highly focused, architectural lens. It required us to ask what the core essence of these spatial traditions truly was.This distance ultimately became our greatest asset. It demanded rigorous clarity in our conceptual diagrams and forced us to distill ancient principles into clean, universally legible architectural gestures. By cross-pollinating a New York sensibility regarding spatial efficiency and neo-luxury with Wenzhou's profound cultural heritage, we avoided the trap of nostalgia. The result is a showroom that feels deeply authentic to its site yet radically fresh on the international stage.
The placement and proportion of the scenic openings within the VIP areas were meticulously calculated using human sightlines as the primary metric. Borrowing from the traditional Chinese garden technique of kuangjing (framed scenery), we mapped these openings based on the visitor’s transition from a kinetic state—walking down the compressed corridor—to a static state, sitting within the VIP lounge. The proportions were kept deliberately slender and controlled to act as precise architectural lenses, capturing vignettes of greenery, light, and material texture. Without these openings, the VIP areas would have felt isolated, breaking the continuity of the spatial narrative. Instead, they introduce a layer of visual porosity and rhythm. They act as "spatial commas"—brief, quiet moments of relief that prevent claustrophobia in enclosed zones. By allowing glimpses of the broader natural narrative to filter into private conversations, they maintain a subconscious thread of connectivity, ensuring the overall emotional arc remains fluid and unfragmented.
The single most transferable lesson from Echo Oriental is that cultural heritage and historical cosmology must dictate the bones of an architecture before they ever touch its surfaces. Too often, contemporary commercial interiors treat tradition as an skin—a pattern on a screen or a calligraphic texture applied to a wall.In Echo Oriental, the narrative is embedded in the structural layout: the crossing axes govern the circulation, and the "Tian Yuan Di Fang" concept dictates the volume and verticality of the main hall. When the fundamental choreography of the space is built entirely upon a philosophical thesis, commerce and ceremony cease to conflict. The ceremony provides the emotional value that elevates the commercial experience, proving that meaningful storytelling and market viability can genuinely coexist in a unified design.