Wann Lounge / Various Associates

Architects: Various Associates
Area: 480 m²
Year: 2017
Lead Architect: Dongzi Yang
Design Team: Dongzi Yang, Qianyi Lin, Naqeeb Popal
Photographs: Chao Zhang
City: Shenzhen
Country: China

Wann Gallery Lounge, designed by Various Associates in Shenzhen, integrates dining, bar, and exhibition functions into one cohesive project in Shenzhen Bay. The design emphasizes the role of material and light, using terrazzo, glass, and metal to define transitions and atmospheres. Red glass dominates the interior, shaping mood and reflections across the corridor, bar, and VIP room. Structural details such as wrapped beams and acoustically considered ceilings highlight spatial refinement. The project creates a hybrid environment where hospitality and art converge.

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

Various Associates were commissioned by Wann to design their first gallery lounge in Shenzhen. Positioned in Shenzhen Bay, one of China’s most rapidly developing areas, the project combines hospitality and exhibition functions. The intention was to create a cultural setting where social gatherings and artistic displays coexist within a single environment.

The exterior is defined by a terrazzo surface designed by the architects, chosen for both durability and clarity of appearance. A pivoting glass entrance door framed by dark planks establishes a dramatic threshold, signaling the transition from exterior to interior.

Inside, the entrance corridor doubles as a gallery space. Wann intends to display artworks along its walls, turning circulation into an exhibition path. This strategy gives visitors immediate engagement with art and emphasizes the connection between display and social space.

At the corridor’s end, red glass surfaces respond to daylight, creating shifting reflections that alter the atmosphere over time. This material generates a clear contrast between day and night and introduces a visual link between the artificial and the natural.

The lounge and bar areas are distinguished by a continuous backdrop of dark red glass. Stretching across several meters, this surface sets the tone of the space while providing depth and rhythm. Behind this partition lies the VIP room, concealed yet connected through the material’s reflective qualities.

In the VIP room, red glass combines with wood and metal to form a restrained version of contemporary luxury. Paintings and interior finishes reinforce the dialogue with the adjoining lounge, while the ceiling design enhances acoustic performance. Structural beams remain visible but are wrapped in metal plates, giving clarity and strength to the space.

Throughout the project, red glass acts as the unifying feature, guiding transitions and defining atmosphere. The careful interplay of structure, material, and light produces a layered setting where hospitality and exhibition blend into a single architectural experience.