House of Dayou

​When considering his work and his life, Shanghai based artist Dayou Geng envisaged living in a space that was an extension of his physical being. He wanted a space that served as his natural habitat, that contained all of his many facets of his life: art, spirituality, music, hosting readings, parties, friends, family, gaming, cooking and his cat. Thinking not only about today, Dayou desired a space within which he can grow over time and that could be flexible enough to evolve with him.

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Spread across two floors of a former industrial and office building, Dayou's residence was imagined to be an arts exhibition with each of the necessary spaces and functions of a residence represented as a pavilion with its own materiality and character. Included are two bedrooms, a guest room storage space, a shrine, a workspace, living area, an area for music, a dining area and a kitchen as well as a large roof terrace. Throughout the space are Dayou's favorite art pieces.

 

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A partially rotated portion of the each volume indicates where to access and enter the volume, and serves as an experience to prepare for entering that volume, immersed in its materiality, as one turns a corner. This approach means that the generic idea of a hallway and room with a door is challenged, and accessing a space becomes an intuitive experience.

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All of the spaces are seen from a main, flexible living space, that can accommodate Dayou's readings and parties, as well as his affinity to create music, while his workspace, serving as a compliment to his larger workshop in the basement, is the most transparent space of the residence, giving Dayou the continuous connection and incentive to remain active that he desires.

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On the upper level, Dayou has his kitchen, dining area, an additional bedroom as well as an expansive terrace from which he can enjoy views of the surrounding area with the beautiful larger trees around the building.