Location: Shanghai, China.

Architect: maos design.

Orchid Massage faced a challenge when creating a new branch in Shanghai, China. They wanted to convey the essence of traditional Thai massage, but the basement location and local fire code prevented the use of wood or other combustible materials often defining Thai architecture. The solution came from the humble red brick, which was at its peak of use in Thailand during the Ayutthaya period. The exposed ruins allowed the architects to learn from the purity of material, walls, columns, and openings. The grounded façade was established using variations of portals and scales of high and low spaces that correspond to the scale of experience of the public and the private. The Orchid experience becomes a journey back to the ancient kingdom, meandering between familiarity of the past and the interpretation of the present.

Photo credit: herman mao.