Li Xiang (architect)

Li Xiang (Chinese: 李想) is a Chinese architect and the founder of the design office X+Living and furniture brand, XiangCASA. She has gained recognition for her works through many awards, such as the Prix Versailles Award and Architecture MasterPrize award.

Li Xiang
李想
Born
China
OccupationArchitect
AwardsSpecial Prize Interior – Prix Versailles Awards
2019
Best of Best – Architecture MasterPrize
2022
Websitewww.xl-muse.com

Early life and education

Li Xiang’s interest in painting from a young age cultivated her interest in design but it was not until her post-secondary studies that she recognized her interest in architecture.[1] She attended a high school abroad when she was 15 years old and later began her studies in architecture in Malaysia and the United Kingdom.[1] Li Xiang graduated from Birmingham City University with a Bachelor of Engineering in 2009 before she returning to China to work at the China Construction Institute.[1]

Career and achievements

X+Living and XiangCASA

After working in the United Kingdom and China for several years, Li Xiang founded X+living (also known as Weixiang Architectural Design (Shanghai) Co.) in 2011.[1] The office X+Living is derived from Li Xiang’s initials - X standing for the unknown and explorative attitude of her work, and L as living and ‘a way of life.’[2] The office consists of a team of almost 70 people.[1]

Design Community Involvement

In addition to design, Li Xiang also involves herself with the larger design community and participated as a jury in several design awards, such as Dezeen Awards, Archiproducts Design Awards, Frame Awards, and Successful Design Awards. In addition, she was also a recipient of multiple rewards, some of note are the Prix Versailles Award and Architecture MasterPrize award.[3]

Design ethos

“My works always seem to present a magical, dreamy, and even surreal style and it is because what I want to create is not just a beautiful space, but a spatial experience for visitors.”[2]

“Design creates value.”[2]

Li Xiang’s work involves the exploration of artistic expression, practicality, and creating new paradigms for futuristic design.[2] The inspiration for her work is derived from her ambition to make the world a better place by making space both a beautiful and spatial experience based on the image of a world she would like to see.[2] It is noted that Li Xiang’s workflow approach is considered unconventional when compared to other architectural practices, where the initial design phase involves mainly working digitally to allow for flexibility and rarely ever on paper.[2]

Major works
An interior shot showing the staircase bookshelf inside the Shenzhen Zhongshuge

Shenzhen Zhongshuge Bookstore (2021)

Following the idea of value creation, Li Xiang hopes to use her work to resurface and highlight the values of a place, such as that of the Shenzhen Zhongshuge bookstore. The project focused on the goal of bringing the cultural story of the city to the forefront, acknowledging the efforts and labour of migrants who struggled within Shenzhen's history - beginning from a small fishing town to a renewed economic zone starting in the 1980s.[4]

Park Zoo Hotel (2018)

Li Xiang often uses her work to convey deeper layers of societal awareness or histories, with one example being the Zoo Park Hotel in Hangzhou, where she brings forth the awareness of wildlife conservation as the main theme for the design, paying tribute to the importance of preserving endangered animals.[5]

Other works
  • Changsha YISHION Flagship Store, Changsha, China (2023)
  • Deji Plaza Phase I - Floor 2 Washroom, Nanjing, China (2023)
  • POPMART Global Flagship Store, Shanghai, China (2022)
  • Changsha Fundoland, Changsha, China (2022)
  • B.C. Glacial Water New Retail Store, Nanjing, China (2022)
  • Deji Plaza Phase I - Floor 6 Washroom, Nanjing, China (2022)
  • The MixC Nanning, Guangxi, China (2021)
  • Ziling Changxing Kindergarten, Huzhou, China (2021)
  • The MixC Ningbo, Ningbo, China (2021)
  • White Rabbit Global Flagship Store, Shanghai, China (2021)
  • Taiyuan FAB Cinema, Taiyuan, China (2021) [6]
  • Sonmei Hotel, Shenzhen, China (2020)
  • Meland Club Flagship Store, Shenzhen, China (2020) [7]
  • Dujiangyan Zhongshuge, Dujiangyan, China (2020) [8]
  • Ningbo Zhongshuge, Ningbo, China (2020) [9]
  • Beijing Zhongshuge Lafayette, Beijing, China (2020) [10]
  • FAB Cinema, Xi'an, China (2020) [11]
  • Home in the Painting, Shanghai, China (2019) [12]
  • Mondodo Kids Town, Jiaxing, China (2019) [13]
  • The MixC Kunshan, Kunshan, China (2019) [14]
  • Zhuyeqing Green Tea Flagship Store, Chengdu, China (2019) [5]
  • Shenzhen Neobio Family Park, Shenzhen, China (2019) [15]
  • Chengdu Neobio Family Park, Chengdu, China (2019)
  • New Century Magic Hotel, Huzhou, China (2019) [16]
  • YooYuumi Kids Club, Beijing, China (2019) [17]
  • Meland Club, Wuhan, China (2019) [18]
  • Loong Swim Club, Suzhou, China (2019) [19]
  • Chongqing Zhongshuge Bookstore, Chongqing, China (2019) [20]
  • Guiyang Zhongshuge Bookstore, Guiyang, China (2018) [21]
  • UNOVA Co-Working Space, Shenzhen, China (2018) [22]
  • Hangzhou Neobio Family Park, Hangzhou, China (2018) [23]
  • Powerlong Ideas Lab, Shanghai, China (2018) [24]
  • Chengdu Zhongshuge, Chengdu, China (2017) [25]
  • Neobio Family Park, Shanghai, China (2016) [26]
  • JOOOS Fitting Room, Hangzhou, China (2016) [27]
  • Shanghai Reel Mall Zhongshuge, Shanghai, China (2016) [28]
  • Wheat Youths Art Hotel, Hangzhou, China (2016) [29]
  • Yangzhou Zhongshuge, Yangzhou, China (2016) [30]
  • Hangzhou Zhongshuge, Hangzhou, China (2016) [31]
  • Shanghai Zhongshuge, Shanghai, China (2015)
  • Ripple Hotel, Hangzhou, China (2015) [32]

Awards
  • 2022 - Best of Best, Architecture MasterPrize, New York, USA [33]
  • 2022 - Gold Award, IFI Design Distinction Award, Copenhagen, Denmark [34]
  • 2021 - Best Bookstore, Interior Design Best of Year Awards, New York, USA [35]
  • 2021 - Jury Winner, A+Awards, New York, USA [3]
  • 2020 - Best Mixed Retail Space, Interior Design Best of Year Awards, New York, USA [36]
  • 2020 - International Color, Restaurant & Bar Design Awards, London, UK [37]
  • 2020 - Platinum Award, The Golden A Design Awards, Milan, Italy [3]
  • 2020 - Entertainment Venue of the Year, Frame Awards, Amsterdam, Netherlands [38]
  • 2020 - Winner of Interior Architecture, Archdaily Best of Building [39]
  • 2019 - Best Bookstore Design, Interior Design Best of Year Awards, New York, USA [40]
  • 2019 - Special Prize Interior, Prix Versailles Awards, Paris, France [3]
  • 2019 - Gold Award, The Golden A Design Awards, Milan, Italy [3]
  • 2018 - Best Restaurant Design, Restaurant & Bar Design Awards, London, UK [41]
  • 2018 - Designer of the Year & Multi-Brand Store of the Year, Frame Awards, Amsterdam, Netherlands [42]
  • 2018 - Special Prize Interior, Prix Versailles Awards, Paris, France [3]
  • 2017 - Global Best Retail Space Award, Prix Versailles Awards, Paris, France [3]
  • 2017 - Gold Award, The Golden A Design Awards, Milan, Italy [3]
  • 2016 - The Best Bookstore Space, American Interior Design Award, New York, USA [43]
  • 2013 - Best commercial space design, Perspective Awards, Hongkong, China [3]

References
  1. "Li Xiang". Designers.org. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  2. Alobaydi, Hiba (2022-10-31). "Li Xiang, founder of X+LIVING, shares her unique formula for creating spaces". Archello.
  3. "Li Xiang Profile". A' Design Award & Competition. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  4. Iype, Jincy (2021-11-13). "X+Living's Shenzhen Zhongshuge bookstore spirals through history and literature". STIRworld.
  5. Waldek, Stefanie (2019-11-04). "This Female-Led Architecture Firm Is Turning Heads in China". Architectural Digest. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  6. "Taiyuan FAB Cinema / X+LIVING". ArchDaily. 2021-03-20. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  7. "X+Living creates a fantastic world for children to explore in Meland Club Shenzhen - DesignCurial". www.designcurial.com. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  8. "A Surreal New Bookstore Has Just Opened in China". Architectural Digest. 2020-10-20. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  9. "Zhongshuge Bookstore, Ningbo, China - The Cool Hunter Journal". Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  10. "Zhongsuge Bookstore in Beijing Lafayette / X+Living". ArchDaily. 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  11. "Shanghai Firm X+Living Designs FAB Cinema in Xi'an, China". Hospitality Design. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  12. "Small apartment | X+Living". Archello. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  13. "Mondodo Kids Town Jiaxing Store | X+Living". Archello. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  14. "The MIXc Kunshan | X+Living". Archello. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  15. "X+ Living cover children's toy town in pastels and polka-dots". Dezeen. 2020-01-17. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  16. "This Female-Led Architecture Firm Is Turning Heads in China". Yahoo Sports. 2019-11-04. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  17. "YooYuumi Kids Club | X+Living". Archello. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  18. "Meland Club | X+Living". Archello. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  19. "Loong Swim Club | X+Living". Archello. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  20. "X+Living uses bookshelf staircases to immerse readers in hall of ladders". Dezeen. 2019-08-04. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  21. "Guiyang Zhongshuge Bookstore / X+Living". ArchDaily. 2019-03-20. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  22. Xiang, Li (2019-01-03). "x+living balances life and work with playful office design in shenzhen". designboom | architecture & design magazine. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  23. "Hangzhou Neobio Family Park / X+Living". ArchDaily. 2018-08-15. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  24. "Powerlong Ideas Lab | X+Living". Archello (in French). Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  25. "Chengdu Zhongshuge | X+Living". Archello. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  26. "Neobio Family Park / X+Living". ArchDaily. 2017-09-04. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  27. "JOOOS Fitting Room / X+Living". ArchDaily. 2016-12-16. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  28. "Zhongshuge Bookstore / Li Xiang". ArchDaily. 2016-09-08. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  29. "Wheat Youth Arts Hotel / X+Living". ArchDaily. 2016-11-10. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  30. "Yangzhou Zhongshuge / Li Xiang". ArchDaily. 2016-08-15. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  31. "Hangzhou Zhongshuge Bookstore / Li Xiang". ArchDaily. 2016-05-29. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  32. "Ripple Hotel - Qiandao Lake / Li Xiang". ArchDaily. 2016-08-14. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  33. "2022 WINNERS". Architecture Masterprize.
  34. "IFI Design Distinction Award Finalists". International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers.
  35. "Best of Year Awards 2021". Interior Design.
  36. "Best of Year Awards Winners 2020". Interior Design. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  37. "Winners 2020". restaurantandbardesignawards.com. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  38. "Proudly announcing the full list of Frame Awards winners". frameweb.com. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  39. "Winners of the ArchDaily Building of the Year 2020 Awards". ArchDaily. 2020-02-17. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  40. "Best of Year Awards Winners 2019". Interior Design. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  41. "Winners 2018". restaurantandbardesignawards.com. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  42. "Frame Awards 2018 Winners Announced In Amsterdam - Frame". www.v2com-newswire.com. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  43. "2016 Best of Year Award Winners". Interior Design. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
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