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Myriad Circles Calihtic Tlachihchiualiztli ipan Chantli by Xishun Tan

Myriad Circles Calihtic Tlachihchiualiztli ipan Chantli by Xishun Tan is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Mahuizolli A' Design Award Cozticteocuitlatl in Callitic Tlacauhtli ihuan Tlanextilizpan Tlachihchihualiztli Competition Category.


CozticteocuitlatlCallitic· 2026

Myriad Circles Calihtic Tlachihchiualiztli ipan Chantli

by Xishun Tan

Client: Vanke

Mahuizolli A' Design Award Cozticteocuitlatl Winner in Callitic Category

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The Design

About Myriad Circles Calihtic Tlachihchiualiztli ipan Chantli

Myriad Circles ce calihtic tlachihchiualiztli chantli ipan, otlanqui ompa Sichuan, China. In tlatecpanaliztli oquiselih iyollo itech in Linpan altepemeh ompa Sichuan itonalcalaquiyampa ihuan inhuehueh Chuandou cuauhtlaquetzaltin. Cuauhtlatequitl tlachihchiuhtli ica American walnut cuahuitl quiyancuilia in netlatzacualiztli ihuan in tlapiloliztli tlamatiliztli in yehhuan tlaquetzaltin. Tepoztli tlatlatilli ihtic in cuauhtlatequitl quipaleuia in etiliztli in miec tlamachiyomeh. Tepoztli in ahmo tlapoyahua ihuan tezcatl monechicoah ica in cuahuitl. In walnut cuauhtlamantli in ahmo molinia quimaca in calihtic huehcatlan tlacayotl, auh in tlamantli in huel molinia quicahua in yeyantli ma tequipano ipan occequin tequitl in mopatla.

The Recognition

About the Mahuizolli A' Design Award Cozticteocuitlatl

Myriad Circles Calihtic Tlachihchiualiztli ipan Chantli ca in quicuic in Mahuizolli A' Design Award Cozticteocuitlatl, huel mahuiztic tlamahuizoliztli tlen momaca in achtopa, huel cualli ihuan mahuiztic tlachihualli. In quicuicah Cozticteocuitlatl ca cenca yancuic, tlachiyani ihuan tlanextic tlachihualli in quinextia in tlamatiliztli ihuan toltecayotl. Ca quinequi in Myriad Circles Calihtic Tlachihchiualiztli ipan Chantli quitlalizque yancuic tlamantli ihuan quimacazque tlazohtli. Ni dizayno in quicuic Cozticteocuitlatl ca mahuiztic tlamantli in quihuelitia in toltecayotl, tlamatiliztli, dizayno ihuan teknolohia. Myriad Circles Calihtic Tlachihchiualiztli ipan Chantli quiyolchicahua ihuan quipaquiltia in tlacah.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties
Echoing the structural elegance of "Linpan" architecture in Western Sichuan, China, this design distills traditional "Chuandou" timber systems into a contemporary narrative. Custom walnut joinery abstracts ancient cantilever techniques, creating a sculptural framework for the client’s "Retro-Futurist" collection. The space bridges eras, merging the precision of heritage carpentry with the playful spirit of the digital age to form a deeply personalized, culturally anchored sanctuary.
Tags
Retro-Futurism, Mid-Century Modern, Linpan Architecture, Residential Interior Design, Collector Workspace, Eclectic Luxury, Custom Joinery, Sichuan Vernacular, Chuandou Structure
Production Technology
To resurrect the essence of traditional "Linpan" settlements, we utilized contemporary fabrication techniques. The design synthesizes American Walnut—a nod to vernacular timber—with modern industrial materials like stainless steel and glass. By embedding concealed steel reinforcements within the joinery, we achieved the iconic "Chuandou" interlocking aesthetic without traditional limitations. This application of modern material science allows the ancient architectural form to be reborn within a "Retro-Futurist" context.
Design Challenge
The primary challenge lay in reconciling the solemnity of vernacular "Linpan" architecture with the vibrancy of a "Retro-Futurist" toy collection. Visually, preventing this eclectic mix from appearing chaotic required rigorous curation to balance historical weight with pop-culture playfulness. Structurally, mimicking the lightweight aesthetic of traditional "Chuandou" cantilevers while supporting heavy die-cast models imposed engineering constraints, necessitating a concealed steel skeleton within the walnut joinery.
Research
This project is grounded in applied design research that decodes the vernacular "Linpan" settlements of Sichuan. We sought to translate their core principles of community, organic hierarchy, and material authenticity into a contemporary urban residence. Our methodology combined ethnographic field observation, spatial analysis of traditional "Chuandou" timber structures, and material prototyping. We engaged local craftsmen and used 3D scanning alongside digital and physical modeling to test modern interpretations of joinery. A key insight emerged: the "Chuandou" system functions as a "social scaffold," organizing life through a gradient of spaces from public to private. This research directly generated the project's central "permanent-temporary" framework. Its impact is threefold: it provides business value through deep cultural narrative, offers society a model for fostering neighborhood belonging in dense cities, and advances design practice by demonstrating a rigorous methodology for systemic vernacular translation, moving beyond superficial aesthetic reference.
Inspiration
A chance journey through Western Sichuan introduced me to the mesmerizing "Linpan" settlements. This experience deeply resonated with me, and by a stroke of serendipity, I was soon commissioned for this Chengdu residence. Inspired to bring this local spirit indoors, I reinterpreted the region's traditional "Chuandou" timber structures. The design translates these ancient interlocking techniques into modern walnut joinery, grounding the space in its cultural roots.
Project Duration
The project started in April 2024 in China and finished in August 2025 in Sichuan China.
Operation Flow
The space guides visitors on a narrative journey, from the symbolic "Tree of Light" entrance into the intimate, wood-clad "Study Box." Interaction is encouraged through integrated zones where children's play is visible to adults, fostering natural community connection. Its strength lies in a "permanent-temporary" framework: the fixed walnut architecture provides cultural depth, while flexible elements allow the space to transform from a sales gallery into an active community hub. This creates not just a functional space, but one that actively builds and sustains relationships.
Team Members
Design Director:FIONA LIU and Project Director:TIM TAN
Image Credits
Photographer:Kong studio

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