A Live-Work Transformation in Shanghai

For architect Wang Zhuoer, the most personal design challenge was not a client brief—it was her own home. Rather than relocating, she chose to stay in the apartment where she grew up and transform it into a combined living and working space, redefining its spatial structure for a more contemporary way of life.

Context & Challenge

Z-39 is a 170-square-meter duplex apartment in Shanghai that has been home to the family since the 1990s. The original layout consisted of a series of enclosed rooms with clearly separated functions. To accommodate a contemporary live-work lifestyle, the project required a complete reorganization of circulation and spatial hierarchy, while retaining the home’s original character.

Design Concept & Solution

The duplex structure became the project's organizing principle: the ground floor open to work and exchange, the upper level reserved for private retreat. A cantilevered staircase connects the two levels, marking a clear transition between work and private life. 

On the ground floor, the space is kept open and flexible. A large central table acts as the primary workspace, dining area, and display shelf. The kitchen and adjacent living spaces support daily work, model-making, and hosting. At the corner, a small enclosed room allows for focused work and private conversations.

The upper level becomes a quieter domestic space. Bedroom and activity room form a large suite, while the living area sits beneath the sloped roof, opening directly to the terrace. 

A new material palette brings a lighter expression to the interior while retaining its original warmth. Teak and stones are replaced with light oak, beige tiles, while glass and stainless steel introduce a crisp, modern contrast.

Detailing focuses on surface continuity—flush joints, concealed systems, and aligned skirting. Custom-designed furniture, as well as architectural models and art installations, are incorporated into the interior, blurring the line between living, working, and display.

Conclusion

Z-39 transforms an old apartment into an open, flowing space where living and working coexist. By embedding her practice into her childhood home, Wang reuses an existing domestic framework and builds a new life on top of it.