When Y.AN Design Studio was commissioned to renovate the Light Well Lane House, they wanted it to be more than just giving the spaces a generic makeover. The vision for Light Well Lane House was to create a space that felt alive, where the boundaries between rooms blurred, and light flowed freely, connecting the family to each other and to their surroundings. At the core of this redesign is a central “alley,” a multi-story staircase that does more than just connect floors—it breathes life into the house, allowing light to pour in and creating opportunities for spontaneous interactions. This alley became the spine of the home, turning a simple vertical passage into a vibrant communal space.
“This project is located on the outskirts of Shanghai, close to the city subway line and surrounded by its own original natural landscape, which is, to some extent, a rare suburban living environment. However, the owners have not spent much time living here. On the one hand, the original houses do not give the corresponding inherent comfort, and on the other hand, many of the surrounding buildings have been marginalised by the owners for renting, which weakens the proper neighborhood atmosphere, and we believe this is a kind of neglected “treasure house,” the design team remarks.
Y.AN tries to use effective and restrained means to make the old house new and obtain real quality improvement both inside and outside, instead of a ”beautiful, refreshing project” to cover up the real contradiction. “We are hoping to explore the inherent plasticity and residential value of self-built residential houses,” adds the design team.
With a floor area of less than 70 square metres per level, this three storey home is typical of many urban residences, yet it harbored a striking contradiction: a well-crafted exterior façade hiding a lackluster interior. Y.AN Design Studio took on the challenge of not just refurbishing this space, but reimagining its potential—transforming it from a simple dwelling into a home with depth and character.
On the outside, the house received a quiet, yet profound, makeover. The old, iron-fenced exterior was replaced with a sleek, durable material that not only refreshed the look of the house but also enhanced its thermal performance. A newly shaped sloping roof created functional space where there was none before, and carefully placed windows framed the surrounding views like artwork, giving each moment in the house a sense of place and purpose.
Project & images: Y.AN Design Studio
Article: Lily Wong
