MORPH Mixed-use Space / Various Associates

Architects: Various Associates
Area: 1000 m²
Year: 2019
Design Team: Dongzi Yang, Jingjing Tang
Manufacturers: Fresh
Photographs: Feng Shao
City: Shenzhen
Country: China

MORPH mixed-use space, designed by Various Associates in Shenzhen, explores transformation by merging traditional Chinese craftsmanship with contemporary design. The project is situated in Nanshan District near Houhai business circle and includes flexible spaces for art, music, and cultural exchange. Hand-dyed fabrics, reworked tiles, and travertine surfaces are combined with modern structural strategies. A mezzanine was added to diversify circulation and spatial layering, while a palette rooted in Wu Xing and Forbidden City references grounds the design. MORPH serves as a bar, lounge, and adaptable venue that reflects Shenzhen’s evolving identity.

Practicality and distinct identity, approached from an architectural perspective, using material combinations with enduring aesthetic appeal to define the project’s tone.
Interview with Qianyi Lin and Dongzi Yang of Various Associates

Morph mixed-use space / various associates

MORPH is a mixed-use project in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District, occupying a 1,000 sqm corner of an existing building. The location sits close to the Houhai business circle and an urban park, offering a cultural refuge within the density of downtown.

The name MORPH means transformation and evolution, reflecting the client’s wish to create a venue for cultural, artistic, and musical activities that could bring fresh vitality to the city.

The project was carried out by Various Associates, a local design studio. For them, evolution implied progress and variation.

Taking into account Shenzhen’s identity as a young city, the design sought to combine traditional local materials with modern spatial forms. The aim was to fuse fading Chinese elements with international design aesthetics in an innovative manner, presenting what the architects described as the “evolution” of design.

Walls and ceilings are finished in sand-colored travertine, giving warmth and texture to the interior. Brass joints and openings lined with gold foil heighten detail and produce a striking contrast with the urban surroundings.

The travertine generates dual qualities: lightweight yet massive, composed yet prudent, transparent yet enclosed. These opposites define the tone of the space.

The color palette is inspired by the Forbidden City and the philosophical framework of Wu Xing, or the Five Elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. In traditional Chinese thought, Wu Xing is the foundation of natural phenomena and the universe. Red, blue, black, yellow, and gold are reorganized and transformed in a modern approach that integrates directly with the interior structures.

Black appears in matte walls clad with a new material derived from traditional “gold tiles” once used in the Forbidden City. While maintaining their tactile quality, the updated process reduces costs through modern technology. Research suggests that the original “gold tiles,” which reflect the wisdom of ancient craftsmanship, may disappear within two decades due to the scarcity of raw materials.

Blue is expressed through curved doors wrapped in hand-dyed cloth made by skilled artisans. Each batch of fabric varies slightly in shade, emphasizing the individuality of the process. A tall wall coated in orthodox blue anchors the space, asserting the purity of the material.

Gold is present in hand-applied foil placed in overlapping layers, similar to the methods used in temples for statues. Light interacts with the surface, becoming brighter over time and endowing the space with a ritual quality.

Red is introduced through velvet sofas of distinctive form, designed in collaboration with domestic brand Fresh. Their vivid presence collides with the deep blues of the curved walls, injecting a sense of modern playfulness.

Earth tones are represented through travertine, offering a natural balance to the more intense hues while reinforcing material depth.

A central intervention in the project was the insertion of a mezzanine into the original 7-meter-high volume. Careful structural calculation allowed the creation of a flexible second level that expands the program.

The mezzanine is connected to the ground floor by circular circulation, which organizes movement through the space. This circulation ensures balance between the program and the strong palette of colors and textures.

Around the main activity space, the bar counter, lounge, VIP room, and cocktail kitchen form a ring that can be reorganized as needed to host various functions.

Flexible rotating doors allow spaces to be either enclosed or expanded. This adaptability supports exhibitions, performances, and gatherings of up to 100 people with theater-level acoustics.

The mezzanine level contains indigo velvet booths paired with repetitive ceiling structures, producing rhythm and geometric clarity. Windows in this area frame views of the performances below, providing new perspectives.

Installations enrich the spatial experience, including a glowing pink glass element in the stairwell that adds vitality, and mirrored compositions in the bathroom that create layered reflections and interactions.

Through MORPH, Various Associates explored methods to address the decline of traditional Chinese materials. On one hand, they adopted innovative design approaches to reinterpret these materials in a modern context; on the other, they merged them with new technologies to expand their potential.

Amidst the evolving cityscape of Shenzhen, MORPH embodies transformation. The project demonstrates how cultural memory and contemporary design can coexist, presenting a venue that continues to adapt and express hope for the city’s future.