someting
Zhu Runzi, Howie

SOMETING -- a traditional furniture store transformed into art galleries.

Modum Atelier as Interior Architects

00/Rebirth of an Old Decoration Mall

Someting has been operating in Nanjing for over 30 years and is one of the earliest brands to delve into Italian-style living and home collections. It has a showroom of over 3000 square meters in the local landmark, Shilin Decoration Mall. In recent years, as the real estate market has declined, traditional home furnishing malls have inevitably faced challenges. The advantages brought by centralized pricing and convenient shopping have gradually diminished due to the rise of online channels. 

Caption

The significance of traditional showroom spaces is being re-evaluated. Recreating the experience will restore the primary purpose of showrooms as exhibition spaces. Immersive displays have undoubtedly become a breakthrough solution for overcoming operational difficulties. The transformation of the decoration city into "a gallery" will convert the traditional sales environment into an exhibition that values ceremony and sensory experience. For each brand, corresponding themed settings are created, and furniture is treated and combined like artwork. 

Caption

The commercial goals are subtly integrated into the exhibition narrative. Visitors casually wander between products, inadvertently absorbing the ambiance, and engage in repeated exercises of appreciating life aesthetics.

Caption

01 / The "gallery" Shaped by Water

In comparison to commercial showrooms, creating a gallery means a stronger spiritual connection, with deeper links to history and memory, and a better understanding of the city’s character. 

Caption

Water is the essence of Nanjing. The Yangtze River and the Qinhuai River—one vast and powerful, the other gentle and graceful. Drifting on the river, the expansive water surface unfolds like a scroll painting, with the mist rising and the sound of boatmen singing, drowning out the bustling noise of the river. Water is also the mark of Italy. Ancient Rome's aqueducts plowed furrows in the earth, and Venice's drunken dreams of swaying need not be told. The continuous flow of water is a shared cultural symbol in both Eastern and Western traditions. Therefore, "water as form" became the core concept behind the design of Someting’s facade.

Caption

pEntrance facade generation diagram

Animated image of storefront generation.

The designer used a membrane structure to mimic mist, draping the "gallery" in a veil that obscures the old facade of the decoration city. The pure form expresses modernist simplicity, as if a powerful brushstroke on a scroll captures the shape of mountains and rivers, extending the calm elegance of Eastern aesthetics. 

It's also like a casual slash on a blank canvas by Italian artist Lucio Fontana, creating a whole new dimension of connection to the universe. The "gallery" is defined by water, marking a clear distinction from the surrounding decoration city. A small cantilevered bridge connects the structure to the street, creating a physical link to the city.

Caption

Walking through the narrow path into the "gallery" transforms the act into a ritual, embodying a spiritual transition into the space. Light emanates from within the showroom, filtering through the membrane structure, casting a gentle glow like flickering lights in the mist. 

pExploded views of the storefront and bridge deck.

The water’s reflection, the cantilevered bridge, winding paths, and draperies all collaborate to create a spatial narrative imbued with the subtle beauty of Eastern aesthetics. Visitors, even before entering, are filled with an anticipation of beauty.

02 / "The Ideal City of Furniture"

Caption

Cities are the most complex creations of man, where history takes place with the convergence of a vast number of people. The showroom is a city of furniture, an ideal city where every detail is designed. Entering the "gallery" through a stone-paved pathway, the designer introduces a section of exposed concrete, resembling an "urban ruin"—echoing the ancient city walls of Ming Dynasty Nanjing, or the corner towers of medieval castles. 

The thick walls within this space create an intimate setting, conducive to private discussions. The "ruin" slightly deviates from the entrance, breaking the original grid structure, creating a sense of flow and organic order. As visitors follow the path, the timeless dimension of space allows for a quiet, meditative experience.

Caption

On the second floor, a large elliptical plaza is introduced. The evocative effect of the spirit of centripetal place in its form on people has been repeated since Michelangelo's Piazza del Capitolio. The designer uses semi-transparent curtains along the edges to enclose the space. 

In a subtle and almost imperceptible way, the design integrates memories of a garden, using modernity to soften the formality and monumentality of the space. Between the curtain rods, openings are left for visitors to enter the space, where sculptural furniture pieces rest on elevated platforms. The act of viewing the exhibition becomes a ceremonial experience. 

Caption

pGeneration diagram of the second-floor space.

pExploded view of the second-floor space.

The curtains and surrounding elements create a circular flow, linking the main path with side routes leading to individual rooms, forming a fluid network similar to a water system. Visitors can leisurely wander through the winding corridors, drawn into different brand stories hidden behind doors. Whether they follow a guided tour or freely explore, they can immerse themselves without fear of losing their way. The browsing process merges art with commercial space, turning straightforward commercial actions into a softer enjoyment of culture and art.

Caption

pFirst-floor plan.

pSecond-floor plan.

pSectional drawing

Caption

Project Info

Project Name: Something Furniture Showroom
Location: Nanjing
Design Firm: Modum Atelier
Design Team: Zhang Siyi, Zhou Nan, Li Zongze, Yang Junbo, Zhou Ruizhe
Building Area: 3200㎡
Design Period: May 2023 - September 2023
Construction Period: October 2024
Materials: Ferrari membrane, concrete prefabricated panels, artistic paint, stone, fabric, Schüco curtain wall
Construction: Nanjing Jinyao Decoration Co. , Serge Ferrari construction unit
Lighting: Nanjing Guangwei Design Consultants Co.
Collaborative Design: Raumplus Design Team
Photography: Zhu Runzi, Howie

Caption
Caption
Project Credits
Interior Architects
Product Spec Sheet

Products Behind Projects
Product Spotlight
News
Archello houses of the month - January 2025
5 Feb 2025 News
Archello houses of the month - January 2025

Archello has selected its houses of the month for January 2025. This list showcases 20 of the m... More

Polish Embassy in Berlin by JEMS Architekci is a “testament to architectural diplomacy”
4 Feb 2025 News
Polish Embassy in Berlin by JEMS Architekci is a “testament to architectural diplomacy”

A project that was thirteen years in the making, the new Polish Embassy in Berlin officially opened... More

Ika.architekti builds fun and functional DIY sauna in Brno
31 Jan 2025 News
Ika.architekti builds fun and functional DIY sauna in Brno

Brno-based ika.architekti has built an upcycled sauna using an array of old materials. The project i... More

Francine Houben, Isabel Van Haute, Stephan Chevalier and DaeWha Kang named as Archello Awards 2025 jurors
27 Jan 2025 Archello Awards
Francine Houben, Isabel Van Haute, Stephan Chevalier and DaeWha Kang named as Archello Awards 2025 jurors

Archello is pleased to announce the first group of its esteemed jurors for the newly launched Archel... More

HGAA expands restaurant in Bãi Cháy with a building that embraces nature
27 Jan 2025 News
HGAA expands restaurant in Bãi Cháy with a building that embraces nature

Vietnamese architectural studio HGAA was included in Archello’s list of the 25 best architectu... More

Mole Architects elevates “mundane” 1960s English bungalow with new extension
27 Jan 2025 News
Mole Architects elevates “mundane” 1960s English bungalow with new extension

Cambridge-based architectural studio Mole Architects has completed the upgrade and extension of an e... More

New Samuel Paty School in Béziers plays with materiality
21 Jan 2025 News
New Samuel Paty School in Béziers plays with materiality

Paris-based ateliers O-S architectes (Vincent Baur, Guillaume Colboc, and Gaël Le Nouëne)... More

Domino Square in Brooklyn plays key part in redevelopment of former historic sugar refinery
20 Jan 2025 News
Domino Square in Brooklyn plays key part in redevelopment of former historic sugar refinery

Studio Cadena, a Brooklyn-based design and architecture practice, recently completed Domino Square,... More