Bronze Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2026
Xi An Oct 108 Villa
by Aoe Design
- A' Design Award 2026 Bronze Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Awarded April 15, 2026
- CLIENT: Aoe Design
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 6,303
- Verification code 177129BE72 · Verify this award
About Xi An Oct 108 Villa
Xi An Oct 108 is a villa interior design located in Xi'an, China. Three above-ground floors and a basement cover 3,600 square meters. Family interaction zones are placed on each level to support shared living, while private rooms remain separate. Operable skylights bring daylight and natural ventilation into the rooms. Light wood finishes, pale coatings and soft furnishings create a calm atmosphere. Twenty-six sensors measure carbon dioxide, dust, humidity, temperature and light, and the systems adjust the indoor climate accordingly.
Zuorong Zhang's residential design engages the enduring architectural challenge of rendering monumental interior volume as intimate habitable space, a negotiation that has occupied designers from Palladio's villa interiors through Wright's prairie houses to contemporary spatial explorations, here achieving synthesis through careful material calibration and proportional intelligence that honors both grandeur and human comfort within the domestic program. The design demonstrates considerable compositional sophistication in its deployment of vertical emphasis balanced against horizontal furniture arrangement, the double-height volume neither overwhelming nor wasteful but instead creating breathing room and visual generosity that elevates quotidian dwelling into spatial experience worthy of sustained attention, while the symmetrical seating choreography establishes clear social geometry inviting gathering and conversation within this expansive framework. Material choices reveal thoughtful restraint and tonal sensitivity, the warm blonde wood paneling providing continuous enveloping surface that reads as both contemporary minimalism and timeless natural material honoring wood's inherent beauty, while the darker brown vertical element functions as compositional anchor preventing visual dissipation across too-expansive pale surfaces, this chromatic strategy creating hierarchy and focal direction without fragmenting spatial unity. The geometric floor patterning demonstrates technical accomplishment in stone inlay work, its classical hexagonal and rectilinear vocabulary providing historical resonance and crafted detail at the plane of bodily contact and closest viewing, establishing foundation both literal and metaphorical for the composition rising above, while the singular magenta floral accent provides precisely calibrated chromatic energy against the restrained earth-tone palette, this controlled color deployment suggesting understanding of accent theory and visual relief. The integration of upper mezzanine level through transparent railing maintains spatial continuity between floors while establishing clear functional separation, the metal's dark finish harmonizing with wood tones rather than introducing cold industrial note, and the suspended lighting fixture scaled appropriately for the volume without competing for attention, its pleated fabric softening the geometry of the drum form. One might observe how this interior negotiates the perennial tension between architectural monumentality and domestic intimacy, inviting consideration of how vertical space can serve psychological expansion and experiential generosity within residential contexts, and contemplation of materiality's capacity to create warmth and welcome within proportions that might otherwise read as intimidating or impersonal.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Family interaction zones are arranged across levels, fostering openness and connection. Abundant daylight and operable skylights create the feeling of living in a "sunny box," while fresh air and balanced indoor climate deliver a joyful living experience.
Light wood finishes, pale artistic coatings, and soft furnishings create a relaxing atmosphere. The landscaped central courtyard and surrounding Chinese gardens offer framed views from every room, greatly enhancing the living experience. - Dimensions & Packaging
- The villa has three above-ground floors (800 sqm each) and a 1,200-sqm basement, with a balance of shared and private spaces.
The interiors use capillary tube networks and fresh-air systems to maintain clean, comfortable air. Eco-friendly, recyclable materials are applied, with big-data and SaaS tools preventing renovation pollution and ensuring safe and healthy indoor spaces. - Tags
- Sunny Box, Family Interaction, Comfort, Indoor Health, Eco-materials, Natural Lighting, Sustainable, Breathable Space, Fresh Air System
- Production Technology
- All skylights can be opened, a design that extends the transitional ventilation season across different climate zones, enhancing comfort while reducing energy consumption. The indoor fresh air rate is designed to be 85 m3 per hour, ensuring ample fresh air to keep people energized.
LED, skylight, and soft membrane lights cater to various needs, consuming only 3% of total energy, significantly lower than traditional villas. - Design Challenge
- The greatest challenge of this project lay in realizing the integrated design of architecture, landscape, and interiors. The extended construction cycle and complex procedures demanded dynamic schedule control, milestone inspections, and pollution prevention, as well as precise coordination of multidisciplinary trades such as electrical, HVAC, carpentry, and furnishing. These requirements far exceeded those of typical residential projects, testing the team's comprehensive management capabilities.
- Project Duration
- Located in Yanta District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China, the project's design began in September 2021 and was completed in September 2024.
- Operation Flow
- The 3,600-sqm villa has 26 sensors (CO2, PM2.5, humidity, temperature, light, rain, wind, etc.) monitoring indoor/outdoor environments. It uses intelligent learning to adjust the indoor climate. Data is stored for future reference, displayed in the interaction center, making the building "speak". Family interaction spaces on each floor foster connectivity.
- Research
- Developed through collaboration among architects, interior designers, furnishing designers and engineers, the villa has been in operation for nearly a year. Results show a stable and healthy indoor environment, with comfort and social interaction significantly enhanced for residents.
- Inspiration
- Located in Xi'an's Qujiang core area, this is China's first residential Active House-certified project, in stable operation for nearly a year with total energy use only one-fifth of large villas.
The design team drew inspiration from the Active House concept, focusing on occupant health and comfort. Through intelligent sensing and adjustment, the interiors become breathable and responsive, addressing the growing demand for sustainable living and high-quality residential spaces. - Image Credits
- Photos by: Tan Xiao/STUDIO TEN