Project: Mondrian Palette Residence
Architecture: Shangceng Design
Design Director: Xia Fu
Location: Beijing, China
Area: 600 m2
Year: 2025
Photo Credits: Xueman Hu
The Mondrian Palette Residence by Shangceng Design unfolds as a lavish visual symphony—a lyrical composition inscribed by time and color. Here, gentle curves collide with bold chromatic statements to create a sanctuary for the soul. Inspired by Mondrian’s iconic use of red, yellow, and blue, the design brings together personal history, cultural values, and contemporary artistry to form a vibrant family home.
A Colorful Sanctuary for Everyday Life
Homeowner Ms. Shen, a renowned Chinese education specialist with an audience of four million followers, envisioned a space that would support her professional activities while nurturing family life. The residence responds with an environment where peace, vitality, and creativity coexist. Hosting intergenerational gatherings, filming educational programs, and sharing quiet family moments all unfold against a backdrop of vibrant hues and fluid geometry.
Inspiration from Art and Nature
Drawing inspiration from her daughter’s jewelry designs, the interiors adopt Mondrian’s three primary colors as the visual framework. Geometric blocks of red, yellow, and blue intersect across the space, reflecting a philosophy of distilling complexity into symbolic clarity. These bold tones also represent self-expression, especially for women, while cheetah motifs embedded throughout the home echo Ms. Shen’s strength, dynamism, and resilience.
A Library Beneath the Spiral Staircase
At the threshold, a striking red spiral staircase immediately sets the tone. Beneath it, a family library forms the intellectual heart of the residence. Surrounded by elegant dark wood shelves and soft lighting, the space becomes both functional and symbolic. It serves as Ms. Shen’s studio for lectures, a filming site for reading lessons, and a storytelling corner for neighborhood children. At night, it transforms into a retreat for meditation and reflection, embodying the home’s balance of activity and stillness.
Spaces for Gathering and Reflection
The Mondrian Palette Residence continues into a bar and living area where color, geometry, and warmth intersect. Vermilion cabinetry, patterned tables, and upholstered furniture in bold tones create spaces where family and friends can gather in comfort. The ground floor also provides a private sanctuary for Ms. Shen’s mother. Here, floral wallpaper, gentle curves, and garden views establish a therapeutic atmosphere of safety and belonging.
Balancing Intimacy and Boundaries
The second floor is dedicated to Ms. Shen and her daughter. Flexible layouts allow for both shared moments and personal solitude. In the master bedroom, soft lavender tones, floral wallpaper, and sculptural lighting combine to form a romantic and serene retreat. A second bedroom, reserved for her daughter, remains intentionally open-ended—like an unfinished canvas that evolves with each visit. This thoughtful layering of intimacy and boundaries ensures that every generation finds both connection and independence.
A Home Written in Color and Memory
Ultimately, the Mondrian Palette Residence is more than a house; it is a living archive of emotions, values, and aspirations. Through its chromatic brushstrokes and symbolic motifs, the home narrates the story of three generations of women. Each has her own realm, yet together they form an interconnected whole, much like Mondrian’s intersecting grids. The result is a space where authenticity thrives, and life’s artistry is celebrated daily.
