Gold Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2026
Cest Lavie Gallery Commercial Space
by Mto & Hwcd
- A' Design Award 2026 Gold Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Awarded April 15, 2026
- CLIENT: Mto & Hwcd
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 37,941
- Verification code D31DE437C2 · Verify this award
About Cest Lavie Gallery Commercial Space
Cest Lavie Gallery is an interior design for a lifestyle and art club in Chengdu, China. The space covers 3,800 square meters and follows a wild luxury style. Functional zoning creates French style negotiation areas, African art exhibition areas, and leisure areas, allowing smooth movement between private and public zones. Materials include wood veneer, stone, artistic glass, metal, and imported fabrics. Customized eco-friendly red bricks and artificial fur add tactile variety. Natural textures and light guide the visitor route.
Cest Lavie Gallery Commercial Space by MTO & Hwcd emerges as a masterful synthesis of contemporary spatial design and poetic luminosity, positioning itself within a tradition of experiential commercial architecture that prioritizes emotional resonance alongside functional sophistication. The designers demonstrate exceptional command of vertical drama through the deployment of a monumental sculptural light installation that transforms the ceiling plane into an ethereal canopy of glowing orbs, their organic clustering evoking natural phenomena from berry-laden branches to constellations traversing night skies. The material vocabulary speaks to refined luxury through the juxtaposition of warm metallic finishes, luminous glass elements, and substantial stone surfaces, each selection contributing to a cohesive sensory narrative. The helical staircase serves simultaneously as circulatory infrastructure and sculptural centerpiece, its gentle spiral inviting contemplative ascent while maintaining visual connection across spatial zones. Particularly accomplished is the chromatic orchestration, which maintains warmth throughout while introducing subtle tonal variations that prevent monotony and reward sustained attention. The incorporation of figurative sculpture at ground level establishes dialogue between artistic object and architectural container, suggesting the space functions not merely as commercial venue but as experiential gallery. The treatment of natural light through substantial curtained apertures introduces temporal dimension, acknowledging the passage of external conditions while maintaining interior atmospheric control. One might observe how the banded column treatments create visual rhythm that bridges floor and ceiling, unifying the composition across its considerable vertical extent. Viewers are invited to consider how spatial design might transcend utility to achieve something approaching the poetic, where movement through architecture becomes an aesthetic experience in itself.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Compared with similar commercial space designs, this project offers unique features and a fresh brand image. Crafted in a wild luxury style, it uses elegant eco-friendly materials to evoke a natural ambiance. Through functional zoning, it incorporates French-style artistic negotiation areas and African wild art exhibition areas, creating a stylish, understated luxury art club that fully embodies the spirit of wild luxury.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The project covers an interior space of 3,800 square meters in Chengdu. Functional zoning includes French-style negotiation areas and African wild art exhibition areas. Main materials include wood veneer, luxury stone, artistic glass, metal, imported fabrics, and customized eco-friendly red bricks and artificial fur, ensuring both durability and alignment with the wild luxury style.
- Tags
- Wild Luxury, Chengdu Culture, French-Style Negotiation, African Art Exhibition, Eco-Friendly Design, Recycled Materials, Luxury Stone, Artistic Glass, Contemporary Lifestyle, Sustainable Interior
- Production Technology
- The project primarily utilizes materials such as wood veneer, luxury stone, artistic glass, metal, and imported fabrics, while also incorporating customized eco-friendly red bricks and customized artificial fur materials. The selection and application of these various materials align with the project's overall style and functional requirements.
- Design Challenge
- The hardest challenge was developing customized eco-friendly red bricks and artificial fur, requiring R&D from production to on-site installation. A tight four-month schedule added pressure across building optimization, construction, and customization. Internally, balancing international aesthetics with Chengdu's cultural identity posed creative risks; externally, limited time and technical constraints demanded close collaboration and process refinement.
- Project Duration
- The project started in May 2025 and finished in August 2025 in China.
- Operation Flow
- The gallery operates as a lifestyle and art club where visitors move through zones of negotiation, exhibition, and leisure. Natural textures and light guide interaction, while functional layouts allow seamless transitions between private and public areas. Customized materials enhance tactile experience, and the immersive atmosphere integrates art, nature, and commerce to deliver a refined, user-centered journey.
- Research
- This research was design-oriented, aiming to merge fashion, art, and commerce in Chengdu. Methods included cultural analysis, material research, and prototyping. Data were gathered through market studies, local cultural references, and material testing, with input from design teams, craftsmen, and clients. Results showed strong user resonance with wild luxury aesthetics. Insights reveal that eco-conscious material innovation can elevate commercial branding while enriching lifestyle experiences.
- Inspiration
- The design inspiration of this project stems from three aspects: first, Chengdu's abundant natural resources and the surrounding environment of the project that is surrounded by mountains and waters; second, the new-type commercial lifestyle format presented by the project's name "Baiyu Ming" and its French counterpart "Cest lavie"; third, the current popular trend of wild luxury style and the project's demand for the expression of artistic life.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer 4U Studio-Zou Fenghan, Cest Lavie Gallery, 2025.
Image #2: Photographer 4U Studio-Zou Fenghan, Cest Lavie Gallery, 2025.
Image #3: Photographer 4U Studio-Zou Fenghan, Cest Lavie Gallery, 2025.
Image #4: Photographer 4U Studio-Zou Fenghan, Cest Lavie Gallery, 2025.
Image #5: Photographer 4U Studio-Zou Fenghan, Cest Lavie Gallery, 2025.