Sunlight Courtyard, Entrance Lobby Of Aranya / SHISUO Design Office

Architects: SHISUO design office
Area: 1,200 m²
Year: 2024
Photographs: Sanif
Landscape Consultant: WTD GROUP
Construction: Chongqing Hechuang Co., Ltd
Bamboo Construction: BMF Material
Designer In Charge: Sanif, Changshan
Design Team: Lin Zihan, Zhang Han
Client: Aranya
Client’s Team: Fu Shuaishuai, Zhang Qian, Guo Xiyu, Dong Huimin, Chen Jin, Deng Yaqiong
Construction Team: Yuan Guibin, Zhang Chun, Wang Zhenkun, Lin Shu, Zhou Huaqaing, Hua Chuan, Wang Deshen, Zhao Mingjun, Ren Yunzhi, Ren Yunfu, Li Wanbin, Liu Chunhua, Xiong Delong, Zou Tao, Ming Jian, Zhao Guanyu, Liu Xueyan, Fu Shaorong, Xie Xinjian
Bamboo Wood Brand: Gao Xu, Hu Jiawei, Wang Yanchun, Zheng Shuai
Architecture Consultant: Shanghai Jianyan Architectural Design Co.
City: Sanya
Country: China

The Lobby Renovation for Two Mountain-View Residences, designed by SHISUO Design Office in Sanya, has redefined transitional spatial experiences by integrating light, local materials, and structural constraints into a cohesive interior language completed in 2024. Responding to the podium levels’ existing topography and infrastructure, the project utilizes elements such as volcanic rock, engineered bamboo, and linen to frame views, diffuse light, and soften movement. A central courtyard now channels daylight and breeze, connecting dual elevator cores through a contemplative corridor. Instead of decorative excess, the renovation emphasizes material honesty and quiet craft, drawing from Hainan’s climate and vernacular textures. By integrating fire-safety systems, mechanical services, and vertical circulation within modular ceiling grilles and arched bamboo canopies, the space strikes a balance between technical precision and poetic gestures. The interior was conceived as a calm return for residents, forming a narrative where structure, light, and air shape both atmosphere and function.

Sunlight courtyard, entrance lobby of aranya / shisuo design office

SHISUO Design Office was commissioned by Aranya in 2024 to renovate the lobby levels of two mountain-facing residential towers in Sanya. The existing podium architecture leveraged the natural elevation change, with one edge pressed into the hillside and the other opening onto stepped terraces, forming a gateway for residents. A covered corridor acts as a transitional element, while volcanic rock walls create framed openings or perforated screens, producing rhythmic contrasts of light and shadow that bridge interior and exterior conditions.

The design team transformed an existing lightwell into a courtyard filled with daylight, shifting the lobby experience from utilitarian to meditative. In contrast to conventional lobbies that foreground visual luxury, the space was envisioned as a modest yet emotionally resonant environment. SHISUO described this spatial shift as capturing “sunlight, the sun’s most precious gift in sacred moments,” through bamboo shadows, flickering curtains, and textured stone.

Sanya’s tropical climate and intense sunlight directly informed the material palette. Engineered bamboo, thermally treated for humidity resistance, creates screening devices that filter direct light. Locally sourced volcanic rock regulates temperature through its porous structure. Natural linen softens acoustics while responding to mountain winds, and rattan-wrapped handles offer tactile contrast against metal fixtures.

Due to pre-existing infrastructure from upper-floor occupancy, the renovation had to integrate mechanical and fire-safety systems. The ceiling was painted black, and aluminum grilles clad in bamboo concealed these systems while complying with fire codes. Their module aligns with emergency fixtures and resonates with the building’s concrete brick façade.

Functional limitations posed by vertical shear walls and conduits informed spatial organization. The entrance lobby was divided into two main zones. At the vestibule, the grid of shear walls forms enclosed nooks under bamboo arches, offering semi-private moments for waiting or resting. A more open inner courtyard brings natural light and breeze into the circulation space between the two towers’ elevator lobbies.

A connecting corridor frames views at either end, creating a sequence of vignettes that extend spatial perception and interaction with the landscape. Technical details were handled with precise intent: stone panels hide floor springs; recessed downlights are embedded in gypsum for glare control; materials like rattan and brass differentiate front-of-house and back-of-house areas. A continuous stone datum line protects walls and defines spatial thresholds.

Every element, including lighting, furniture, and even the fire extinguisher box, was custom-designed by SHISUO. The use of OPEN OBJECT ceramic vessels further ties the project to ideas of rooted craftsmanship. The renovation demonstrates control over both architectural limitations and expressive detailing, offering residents a subtle, place-specific return experience shaped by light, material, and care.