Located in Panyu district of the city of Guangzhou, which has played an important role in shaping and cultivating the Lingnan culture for generations, XLXN Lifestyle Art Space seeks to explore the interconnection between individuals, the natural world and the local culture through modern artistic ways. The founders/designers also aim to portray the relationship between individuals and their surrounding space through this project, thus changing people’s perspective towards the functionality of an empty space. Additionally, the designers aspire to promote the local cultural heritage, thus enhancing people’s love towards nature and their city. 

The ‘rivers’ flowing around in the space inspired by the differing shapes and directions of Panyu’s main rivers, which are portrayed through the use of Karesansui, also known as the Japanese dry garden style, in the studio.The swirling sand/gravel patterns depict the ‘rivers’, which serve to link different areas in the room, and to form connections between individuals within the space. Individuals can flow with the ‘river’ stream but are also free to modify the patterns of the ‘rivers’, allowing the individuals to join one another across the ‘rivers’.

The designers have reconstructed the establishment, where the wall facing the old streets of Panyu district is replaced by full-height sheer accordion doors. This provides an outlook of the traditional architecture in the streets of Panyu as well as natural light that enhances the beauty of the river landscape within the studio. The designers seek to blur the boundaries between the studio and the city, hence eliciting a sense of appreciation and respect towards our heritage, nature and arts.

The designers hope that visitors are able to feel and engage within the space, and subsequently become a part of the arts. The designers hope that the space within the studio allows individuals to experience the flow of the city, to explore the characteristics of the various historic building materials, and to share the aesthetic environment as a whole.