Birdhouse

Abandoned architecture

April 6, 2017September 30, 2017 Shelley 0 Comment Blog, Photography

Took some time between jobs to visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) with the folks last week. It’s nice to be reminded of the amazing natural beauty China has to offer. As I say every time I escape the city – Must Explore More.
As we walked up to the entrance we passed a disused building. Not a particularly interesting building, simple concrete structure seen widely throughout China, with the typical upside-down stepped profile on the gable ends. What makes it beautiful is the fact that nature is reclaiming its territory, slowly decomposing the bones and returning it from whence it came, proving yet again – nature always wins.
With the majestic mountain in the background, it provided an excellent opportunity to practice some HDR photography.

Café Del Volcán featured on Archdaily China

February 6, 2017September 30, 2017 Shelley 0 Comment Hospitality, Media

Now this is what you want to see on a Monday morning post-holiday.

I unfortunately failed once again to make it out to the morning taichi session in the park (the cold to blame), so I head straight to my desk and open up the usual design blogs, and what is the first article I see?? The cafe, published on Archdaily China!

Café Del Volcán was a collaborative project with gDS. It feels so good to see it published!

You can visit the website here. Whoop!

Zapfler Brewery nearing completion!

January 23, 2017September 30, 2017 Shelley 0 Comment Blog, Hospitality

Down at Found 158 this morning, it’s like a ghost town compared to the frenzy of building activity that has been constant for the last 2 months. Chinese new year approaches like a distant storm – its presence can be felt long in advance, when suppliers and contractors start saying things like, ‘oh no. We can’t possibly have that ready in time.’

But the holiday doesn’t start for another 3 weeks.

‘Yeah, but nah.’

In other words, they may still be onsite physically, but in their minds its already holiday. And I suppose I can’t blame them. Its their one and only holiday. The only time in the whole year they will see mum and dad, wives or husbands, their kids. So go. Take a break. Shoo shee sharrr! (say it out loud. I reckon my Chinese phonetic spelling is pretty spot on)

Post holiday, following the return of the migrant workforce (whenever that will be), the brewery is probably only a couple of weeks away from completion! This is exciting. It’s been left in a relatively clean state, only a few minor things still to fix. Kitchen equipment is already in, brewhouse equipment will come later, as well as furniture. For now, all I can do is sit back and watch the sheet iron rust (don’t assume it’s like watching paint dry) into a beautiful red hue!

From the birdhouse team, xin nian kuai le! Bring on the Rooster!

引燕祝你新年快乐！

Tai An rd Home Office

January 14, 2017September 30, 2017 Shelley 0 Comment Blog, Residential

Renting can be uninspiring. What you get is what you get. Oftentimes low quality, generic furniture. Or worse – IKEA. Urgh. And landlords not willing to invest any time or thought into colours. Doing it yourself means investment on your part, which is not always practical if your intention is short term-ish stay.

I won’t lie, there was considerable time and money spent in getting this rented apartment looking the way it does now. Not to mention some permanent (although nothing is really permanent) changes made, ie painted walls, drilled holes, etc. But each morning when I sit down at my desk, I feel calm. To borrow the words of the brilliant Tadao Ando, your home is your retreat, your place of repose and escape from chaos. And believe me, there is some serious repose going on here!

So to me, it’s worth it. Investing a little. Even if it’s short term. You can take furniture with you. You can patch up holes and you can re-paint. As I said, nothing is permanent. And it doesn’t necessarily need to cost so much. What’s important is that it reflects YOUR CHARACTER.

If you’d like help in furnishing an apartment, please feel free to contact us at birdhouse.

Suppliers:

Chairs: Edimass
Rug: Carpetstan
Morrocan lamp: Carpetstan
Desk: Custom made
Built in shelves: Custom made
Barrel potplant, wushu biscuit tin potplant: Pudong Antique Market (plants by owner)