Forte Imperial West Suburb

Designed by Dongting Zaoyuan, the 180-square-metre private garden at Fudi Yu Xijiao in Shanghai's Changning District is conceived in a simple, restrained zen idiom, built around a white and grey palette and natural materials. The owner asked for a garden that feels calm while retaining a sense of style, and the design follows the principle that everything should be as simple as possible but no simpler, each element doing its job in its most basic state. There are no complex forms or vivid colours, only the warmth of wood, the roughness of washed concrete and the freshness of running water. A low, contemplative water feature replaces showy fountains; its edge is built as an infinity pool that feeds the garden quietly, indifferent to the bustle outside. At night the garden reads as an ink-wash painting, echoing the classical poem about a quiet spring and sunlight on water. A sunken platform resolves the site's grade change and adds layered, secluded depth in the spirit of a winding garden path. A wooden storage unit at the entrance maximises storage without interrupting circulation. Because the garden faces south, where moss would yellow and fail, the design substitutes lawn for moss and uses washed concrete instead of gravel, inlaid with stone and copper strips that simulate water ripples; glow fittings embedded in the washed concrete read as a river of stars after dark. Lighting is aimed at the pool bottom so that its texture is revealed from beneath. The 60-working-day build delivers a quiet, low-cost retreat from crowded Shanghai, in which simplicity itself is the luxury.