Myriad Circles Ukwakhiwa Kwangaphakathi Kwendawo Yokuhlala by Xishun Tan

Myriad Circles Ukwakhiwa Kwangaphakathi Kwendawo Yokuhlala by Xishun Tan is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Umklomelo Wegolide we-A' Design Award in Ukudizayina Ingaphakathi Competition Category.

IgolideIngaphakathi· 2026

Myriad Circles Ukwakhiwa Kwangaphakathi Kwendawo Yokuhlala

by Xishun Tan

Client: Vanke

Umklomelo Wegolide we-A' Design Award Winner in Ingaphakathi Category

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The Design

About Myriad Circles Ukwakhiwa Kwangaphakathi Kwendawo Yokuhlala

I-Myriad Circles ingumklamo wangaphakathi wendawo yokuhlala owaqedwa e-Sichuan, e-China. Uhlelo lwendawo lugqugquzelwe yizindawo zokuhlala zase-Linpan zaseNtshonalanga ye-Sichuan kanye nezakhiwo zazo zezingodo zesiko elibizwa ngokuthi i-Chuandou. Umsebenzi wokuhlanganisa izingodo ze-American walnut owenziwe ngokukhethekile uphinda uhumushe amasu okuxhumanisa nokweyamisa alezi zakhiwo. Izinsimbi eziqinisayo ezifihliwe ngaphakathi kwalezi zingodo ezihlanganisiwe zisekela isisindo seqoqo lamamodeli. Insimbi engagqwali kanye nengilazi kuhlanganiswe nokhuni. Izingxenye ze-walnut ezimile zinikeza ingaphakathi ukujula kwamasiko, kanti izingxenye eziguquguqukayo zivumela indawo ukuthi isebenzele izinjongo ezishintshayo.

The Recognition

About the Umklomelo Wegolide we-A' Design Award

Myriad Circles Ukwakhiwa Kwangaphakathi Kwendawo Yokuhlala iwinile uMklomelo Wegolide we-A' Design Award, ukwaziswa okuhloniphekile kakhulu okunikezwa imiklamo yeklasi yokuqala, emangalisayo nephawulekile. Abawinile beGolide yimiklamo emisha kakhulu, enombono ongaphambili futhi egqamile ebonisa ubuhlakani, ukuhlakanipha nobuchule babaklami babo. Myriad Circles Ukwakhiwa Kwangaphakathi Kwendawo Yokuhlala ilindeleke ukuba ibe yinto entsha edunyiswe kakhulu, ebeka isitayela futhi ebalulekile elethe inani elingakaze libonwe. Lo mklamo owinile uMklomelo Wegolide we-A' Design Award ungumgomo omangalisayo nohlonishwayo osiza kakhulu futhi osunduza imingcele yobuciko, isayensi, ukuklama nobuchwepheshe. Myriad Circles Ukwakhiwa Kwangaphakathi Kwendawo Yokuhlala idala imizwa ejulile yesifiso, ivuse intshiseko, ikhuthaze ukudala futhi iyasiheha.

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