Yixing Study Space by Atelier d’More – A Contemporary Urban Sanctuary in Nanjing

Perched high above Nanjing’s bustling Xinjiekou district, the Yixing Study Space, designed by Atelier d’More, redefines the urban learning environment through a poetic blend of architecture, materiality, and spatial experience. This 208 m² study space, completed in 2025, transforms the typical office tower floor into a serene sanctuary where the city’s noise fades behind the glass doors, revealing an intricate, organic interior system. Every detail—from birch wood furnishings to delicate fabric panels—creates a harmonious dialogue between light, texture, and movement.

Upon entering, visitors are greeted by a floating lantern-like installation, serving as both a functional light source and spiritual totem. Digitally designed and meticulously crafted from birch plywood with traditional mortise and tenon joinery, this suspended fixture emits a gentle, rhythmic glow as sunlight filters through during the day and soft warm lighting fills the space at night. The shadow patterns shift continuously across desks, crafting a dynamic interplay of light and atmosphere that evolves over a full solar cycle.

Spatial design in the Yixing Study Space emphasizes verticality and interactive movement. Functional zones are stacked strategically in areas with minimal overhead constraints, creating an engaging “climbing path” that leads to three-dimensional study boxes and ultimately to a meditation pod. This capsule-like retreat, complete with a retractable transparent desk, offers users panoramic views of the city, fostering reflection and a sense of detachment above the urban flow.

The design cleverly integrates infrastructure with aesthetics. Partial drop ceilings conceal HVAC and ventilation ducts while leaving the majority of the ceiling exposed, enhancing the perception of lightness. Custom wooden light fixtures mounted on horizontal fire sprinkler pipes transform otherwise intrusive elements into sculptural rods, turning functional necessities into expressive design features. The 12-seat study table incorporates cantilevered lighting with detachable screen mechanisms, allowing users to control privacy while maintaining visual connectivity.

Perhaps the most intimate and emotional aspect of the project lies in its participatory construction. The fabric covering the wooden frames was installed by the owner’s family, infusing the space with warmth, memory, and human presence. Over time, the fabric absorbs traces of its users, transforming the study space from a meticulously designed object into a living, evolving environment that resonates with the rhythms of daily life.

Yixing Study Space is not just a learning environment; it is an emotional amplifier, where architecture, craftsmanship, and human interaction converge to redefine the contemporary urban study experience.

All Photographs are works of Langxing Zhou