向域设计将一座位于上海静安区的上世纪30年代的四层老房子进行修缮和改造，在整个设计中寻求修缮与新作、居住与办公、新与旧之间的平衡。 向域设计在 2 层和 3 层之间特别嵌入一个“木质光盒”，以此来获得一个三层挑空的中庭。这一根本性的改变让原本全封闭的空间得到自然过渡，将屋内墙体的界限抹去，再利用“窗”使空间连贯，消除了房间与房间的隔阂，带来一种自然有机的整体的感觉。让原本压抑封闭的环境得到了极大的改善。中庭开了几个窗，晴天的时候阳光充斥整个中庭。 “光盒”的外部同样大有作为：书桌、书柜，衣柜及扶手都被巧妙地融入其中。由此划分空间，增加采光，借景交融的效果使得整栋住宅不仅仅只是单一的住所。如今这里，或居家或办公，可洽谈可会友。 如果说几经沧桑的胡桃木橡木代表了过去的旧时光，那么浅色的多层桦木板则唤醒了老宅的新生。选材上，二层，三层木盒内外皆使用的是触感平滑的浅色桦木板，寓意一种新生与活力。与原始壁炉框，门框窗框的浅色相得益彰，让置身四周的人们或感受到轻快，或温暖的居家，办公氛围。
In the restoration and remodelling of a four-storey 1930s house in the Jing'an district of Shanghai, Atelier xy seeks to strike a balance between restoration and new work, between living and working, between the old and the new. This is a 90 year old house with an ordinary layout and functional plan that is far from suitable for today's people. The owners wanted the designer to revive the old house and give it a new life. To make the house more adaptable to modern living and to find a balance between the old and the new by means of restoration and new work. The designer removed part of the floor slab in order to create bigger atrium. By inserting a highly functional wooden box between the 2nd and 3rd floors. The box contains a desk, a bookcase, a wardrobe, a window hole and a handrail. The result is a division of space, increased light and a view. The addition of the new wooden boxes was an unexpected surprise to the old house. When guest first arrives through the living room, they look up and discover that there is a hidden atrium. The atrium has several windows and on a sunny day the sun floods the entire atrium. Atelier xy has created a triple-height atrium by inserting a special 'wooden light box' between the 2nd and 3rd floors. This action creates a natural transition from an otherwise totally enclosed space. By removing the boundaries between the interior walls of the house, the 'windows' are used to create a coherent space. By eliminating the boring walls between rooms, the space becomes interesting. The atrium has several windows, which flood the atrium with sunlight on sunny days. The exterior of the "light box" is also useful: desk, bookcase, wardrobe and handrails have been carefully integrated into it. The division of space, the increase of light and the integration of the landscape make the house more than just a residence. Nowadays, it is a place to live or work, to meet friends or to talk. If the walnut oak represents the old times, the light-coloured multi-layer birch boards awaken the new life of the old house. The second and third layers of the box are made of light-coloured birch boards, which are smooth to the touch, both inside and outside. It represents a new life and vitality. The light colours of the original fireplace frames, door frames and window frames complement the light colours of the original fireplace frames, door frames and window frames, giving people around the house a light and warm atmosphere at home and in the office.