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The idea stemmed from the designer’s close friendship with the homeowners, creatives who work from home, and a desire to pay homage to the building’s original name: “Friendship Apartment.” The concept was developed through in-depth conversations and immersive observations of the couple’s routines. A "minimal intervention" strategy was adopted to preserve the building’s historic integrity while reconfiguring the interior. Key ideas included enhancing shared spaces, optimizing circulation through a looped layout, and allowing the space to unfold with the gentle rhythm of daily life, like a true friendship.
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Located in Shanghai’s Xuhui District, at the intersection of Fuxing West and Yongfu Roads, the Friendship Apartment is surrounded by historic buildings and everyday urban life. The owners were drawn to the neighborhood’s vibrant spirit and heritage atmosphere. The design respects and reflects this urban context by preserving material textures, exposing original beams, and harmonizing new functions with the old shell. It stands as a sensitive space of urban renewal—one that bridges past and present with quiet warmth.
The renovation began with a comprehensive assessment of structural safety and focused on essential reinforcements, waterproofing, and soundproofing, avoiding unnecessary overhauls that could compromise the building’s integrity. This "minimal intervention" strategy prioritizes sustainability by preserving original materials and structure, reducing waste, and adapting old systems with modern upgrades. Improvements in acoustics, ventilation, and lighting were implemented with long-term livability in mind.
Friendship Apartment is a thoughtfully reimagined creative residence within a 1941 historic structure. With a focus on "preserving texture, reworking flow," the design retains original masonry and beams while radically transforming the internal layout. Responding to the couple’s lifestyle—favoring generous shared spaces over bedrooms—the kitchen and bathroom were repositioned to create a unified living-dining-cooking area. A looping circulation promotes organic spatial movement. Existing columns were adapted as multifunctional wardrobe-utility units, increasing spatial efficiency. The use of exposed beams, warm woods, and custom cabinetry creates a tactile dialogue between old and new. More than an architectural gesture, the design is rooted in a deep understanding of the residents’ daily rhythms, making the home a vessel of both function and emotion.
The homeowner shared: One thing we kept was an 85-year-old beam, quietly bearing the traces of time. Clean lines define the space, with all appliances hidden—even the range hood is invisible. Living here taught me to choose bravely: let go of what’s unnecessary, and your heart feels lighter, with more room for what truly matters.
ONOAA STUDIO, an architectural and interior design firm, was established in 2019 by Gao Ya and Chen Peng in Shanghai. The studio’s projects span commercial spaces, architectural renovations, offices, private residences, retail environments, showrooms, cultural venues, objects, and various creative possibilities.
Committed to balancing creative ideas with practical solutions, studio imbues spaces with unique design philosophies and experiences. ONOAA not only has the capability to solve inherent challenges but also addresses new problems arising from innovative ideas. By integrating spatial experiments with reality, we aim to find solutions through meticulous control and ongoing coordination of the design process.
We believe that creativity is not solely about producing novel items; reimagining familiar objects as unknown territories for redevelopment is equally creative. Ultimately, the creation of space is the essence of our craft.
