LSD Interior Design Merges Functionality, Artistry, and Contemporary Comfort

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features an elegant show flat design by 2025 SBID Awards Finalists, LSD Interior Design.

LSD Interior Design was commissioned by Shanghai Yalong Gucheng Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. to design the interiors of One Central Park. The project blurs boundaries between living and dining zones, creating a gallery-like, light-filled space enriched with vintage lighting, international art, and panoramic views. The result is an elegant, open-plan residence that merges functionality, artistry, and contemporary comfort.

What was the client’s brief?

Shanghai Yalong Gucheng Real Estate Development Co.,Ltd. is a forward-looking real estate enterprise based in Shanghai, with a strong commitment to creating high-quality residential and commercial developments. The company integrates modern design vision with refined construction standards, striving to deliver projects that not only meet market demands but also elevate the living experience of residents.

With an emphasis on cultural awareness, lifestyle innovation, and sustainable urban integration, Yalong Gucheng has established a reputation for developing projects that combine functionality with artistry. Its portfolio reflects a dedication to excellence in planning, architecture, and spatial design, while maintaining sensitivity to the evolving aspirations of contemporary urban communities.

As the client of One Central Park, the company continues to demonstrate its pursuit of distinctive, human-centered living environments. By supporting innovative design approaches and embracing international perspectives, Shanghai Yalong Gucheng Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. positions itself as a driving force in shaping sophisticated urban lifestyles in China.

What inspired the design of the project?

The design drew its core inspiration from the pursuit of “symbiosis between art and daily life”, with the “art gallery” as a pivotal conceptual prototype. It aimed to transcend the traditional boundary between functional living spaces and artistic venues:

– By emulating the fluid circulation and immersive aesthetic experience of art galleries, the design liberated the “circulation axis” of the open-plan layout, allowing the act of moving through the home to resemble a leisurely stroll through a gallery.

– It treated the natural environment as an integral part of the spatial “artwork”—utilizing floor-to-ceiling windows (spanning the living and dining areas) and the 270° corner vista to frame the exterior landscape as a dynamic, ever-changing “living canvas.”

– Guided by the principle of “contextual relevance” for functional zoning, the design sought to blur rigid spatial interfaces, transforming the living and dining areas into permeable “vessels” that harmonize light, air, functionality, and artistry.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

The primary challenge lay in reconciling spatial openness with functional clarity in the large open-plan flat—avoiding either a chaotic “one-size-fits-all” space (lacking distinct functional zones) or a fragmented layout (ruined by rigid partitions that undermine openness and interaction). To address this, the team adopted a set of “non-intrusive zoning strategies” that prioritized continuity while defining functions:

– Leveraging existing architecture: Instead of adding fixed physical partitions between the living and dining areas, the team used the building’s original walls as the primary framework for spatial allocation, ensuring proportional rationality without disrupting openness.

– Furniture as “invisible boundaries”: Oversized sofas (accommodating diverse family routines) and low-profile backrests (enhancing visual connectivity) were deployed to delineate the living zone; a backless chaise paired with horsehair armchairs defined the reading nook; and area rugs anchored functional zones—all while maintaining spatial flow.

– Material continuity as a unifier: The same high-end stone was used for the dining table and lounge countertop, creating a subtle visual link between adjacent functional areas, which fostered dialogue and reinforced the cohesive narrative of the living-dining space.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The project’s highlights revolved around its seamless integration of openness, functionality, artistry, and familial warmth:

– “Gallery-like” spatial experience: By liberating the cross-hall “circulation axis,” the design transformed daily movement through the home into an immersive art-gallery stroll, setting a sophisticated tone for the large flat.

– Dynamic natural “artwork”: The 270° corner vista and full-span floor-to-ceiling windows turned the exterior landscape into a constantly evolving “living canvas,” merging indoor comfort with outdoor beauty.

– Interaction-enhancing furniture design: The oversized sofa catered to diverse family routines, while its low backrest maximized visual connectivity—directly addressing the client’s need for familial interaction.

– Blurred yet coherent spatial boundaries: The ambiguous spatial interfaces allowed the living and dining areas to act as permeable vessels for light and air, while the combination of original walls, furniture clusters, and rugs ensured clear functionality without sacrificing openness.

– Art as a “memory anchor”: Curated large-scale artworks and internationally sourced vintage lighting fixtures added layers of personalization, bridging the duality of the space—practical daily living and artistic appreciation.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

The project aligns closely with the SBID Awards’ core values of recognizing design that balances innovation, functionality, aesthetics, and human-centricity—making it a natural fit for submission:

– It innovatively solves a universal challenge in open-plan residential design (balancing openness and functional clarity) through non-intrusive, context-driven strategies, offering a replicable model for high-end flat design.

– It redefines the relationship between “home” and “art,” proving that residential spaces can simultaneously serve as practical family havens and immersive artistic environments—reflecting the award’s emphasis on elevating living aesthetics.

– Every design decision (from furniture height to material selection) centers on the client’s needs for familial interaction, comfort, and personal expression, embodying the “people-oriented” design philosophy valued by the SBID Awards.

– The project’s meticulous attention to detail—from the 270° view framing to the material continuity between zones—showcases excellence in both macro spatial planning and micro design execution, meeting the award’s rigorous standards for quality.

By entering, the team aimed to share this exploration of “art-infused, family-friendly open-plan living” with the global design community, contributing to dialogues on contemporary residential design innovation.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

Being an SBID Awards Finalist represents profound recognition and strategic value for both the team and the business:

– For the team: It validates their creative vision of merging art and daily life in residential design, as well as their problem-solving prowess in balancing spatial openness and functionality. This affirmation strengthens their commitment to human-centric, aesthetically rigorous design, inspiring them to push further in exploring the boundaries of residential spatial experience.

– For the business: It significantly enhances brand visibility and credibility in the global high-end residential design sector. The project’s finalist status demonstrates the business’s ability to deliver designs that harmonize practicality, artistry, and client-centricity—attracting clients who seek sophisticated, personalized open-plan residences. More importantly, it positions the business as an innovator in “gallery-inspired residential design,” laying the groundwork for leading industry discourse on integrating art into everyday living spaces.