An attic in COVID lockdown
In the local residence of shanghai which is known as Lilong ,living spaces are often cramped and confined.Residents often take advantage of the Dormant Window and Sloping Roofs, to add a small attic space between the second floor and the roof.Some people have likened it to the "appendix of a building." It is usually represents the worst and most crowded living condition. During lockdown of shanghai because of COVID-19 , architect renovated it as a temporary dwelling.In this case, a minimise but effective intervention was made to transfer it into a poetic dwelling space.

The challenge of the design was how to accommodate daily needs in a traditional and extremly tiny attic space in Lilong Housing of Shanghai, and how to shorten the construction time and save costs under the heavy pressure of the continuously lockdown, while creating a dignified and comfortable living space. Therefore, design strategy is to balance the demolishment and construction within a time and cost constraints, as well as the creation of spiritual space within daily function needs.

It challenges the general understanding about attic in Lilong house. It used to be a messy and crowed space which never a comfortable living space. However, a micro but effective intervention can bring it into a different level. After removing unnecessary decorations, architect retained the original roof, old brick walls, and wooden columns as historical trace. The high-raised roof gives a sense of grandeur towards daily life, while the mottled brick walls and wooden frames have a primitive tension. 

The new space is unfolded under the beams, and the spiral staircase divides the attic into a cross-symmetrical plane: the bedroom is located near the Dormant Window for more natural light, while the shower and toilet are on either side of the staircase. A corner for reading and viewing is located under the northern window. The walls are covered in white waterproof paint and white glass as the partition, which creates a dialogue between old and new. What's more, it encourages people to rethink the essence of dwelling, especially during the sudden lockdown. A place to meet daily function is not enough to be called “home”, it should be also curing for the broken souls, helping people to recover from daily life.

The attic is considered a sacred place for self-treatment, while the kitchen downstairs is a reflection of the secular world. The original mosaic floor of the kitchen was preserved (a common feature in old Shanghai Lilong houses), and white cabinets were installed to store the refrigerator, washing machine, and kitchen things. A staircase was painted black, intentionally separating the experiences of the upper and lower levels and creating a sense of anticipation for the transition between daily life and spiritual life.