Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Aug 27, 2025

A Volcanic-Rock Courtyard Energizes a Dramatic Home in Shanghai

A Volcanic-Rock Courtyard Energizes a Dramatic Home in Shanghai

From the ground up, Hiding House combines natural forms, textures, and materials to theatrical effect.

Hiding House by Shanghai-based architecture firm Wutopia Lab is as dynamic as it is artful. The 1,496-square-foot home features repeating archways, a Chinese garden, scattered Tai Hu stones, wisteria and bauhinia trees, and an expansive courtyard paved with black volcanic rock. "Black was the perfect color to emphasize the green trees and the white house," says chief architect Yu Ting. "Nature is part of the architecture."



The garden and courtyard area-rich with a variety of forms and sublime textures-connect the house’s two volumes. The main volume is comprised of a living room that doubles as an exhibition space, a library, a dining room, a master bedroom, and a canteen and tearoom with a roof terrace. The secondary volume holds the kitchen, the bathroom, a children’s bedroom, a second living room, and a mezzanine.



After being inspired by one of Wutopia Lab’s restaurant designs and Sir John Soane’s Museum in London, the client requested a home that would be more than just a house. He wanted a designed that would be progressive, multifaceted, and ever-changing-a design that, like life, would feel theatrical and energetic. "Hiding House is a complex context with possibility, hypothesis, and fantasy," Ting says. "It offers the dramatic experience of life."



On the ground floor, the courtyard’s volcanic rock paving abuts wood decking that is slightly raised to mimic a stage. A translucent drapery-like screen separates the decking from the rock, reinforcing the idea of theater. Near the facade, the decking wraps around the base of a gnarled tree trunk that grows through a cutout in a perforated metal awning; the perforated quality allows for the play of light and shadow on the walls, which were constructed with diatomaceous earth. "It’s environmentally friendly and provides delicate texture, and reflects light that’s particularly soft," says Ting.



Inside the home, the children’s room appears as "a silvery blue galaxy," Ting says. The hanging acrylic globes represent stars, and each is a display case with a shelf inside. The concept for the room is a miniature version of the bubble installation found in Aryana Kid’s restaurant-the same restaurant that inspired elements of the home’s design. The tearoom features glass walls that connect the space to the wondrous courtyard area, and a vertical screen can close when privacy is desired.



"Hiding House has a personal identity that can feel real, fictitious, or both," Ting remarks. "It inspires strong physiological and emotional reactions and awakens body consciousness. It’s a place with symbolic and material value."


Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Spotify’s Strange Move: The Feature Nobody Asked For – Returns
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
×