Tomsom Riviera, Shanghai, China
Henry Jiang of Gensler approached me about collaborating on a 7,500 square foot apartment in the Tomson Riviera (Yipin) apartment complex. Located in the Pu Dong New Area directly across the Huangpu River from the Bund. This 31st floor apartment has views of the Huang Pu River and the Bund from all of the terraces.
The young client wanted a clean modern feel but one that was based in a more traditional and solid feel that is offered by solid brass hardware. We recommended unlacquered brass for the finish. I provided the client with a sample knob which he kept on his office desk for over two years as the project progressed. In that way he could see how the rich patina developed over time.
Over the course of the construction running changes were made and what was once a home study and office space became a tea room and living room. The space needed to be able to be closed off from the corridor at times to be used as a tea room, yet also wanted to be able to be opened up when used as a living room.
For this we supplied hardware for four sashes that allowed the whole wall to be operable doors. Harmon Pocket pivot hinges were used to hang the outer two sashes (over 1 meter wide each). Then the inner two sashes were hung on Art Deco Lift off butt hinges. The sashes were secured with Miniature Art Deco custom made cremones. The projection of the cremones and knobs needed to be adjusted so that the doors could fold parallel to each other. Custom magnetic stops and holders secured the doors open and prevented the knobs from hitting the opposite sash. Custom Art Deco framed Knife pulls allowed the sashes to be pulled from the pockets.
The balance of the hardware consisted of our interior mortise locks which allowed for single cylinder locks for bedroom doors (a customary feature in Asia), privacy locks for bathrooms, passage sets for dressing rooms and the kitchen. Several doors were equipped with transom bolts rather than flush bolts. This was done to allow easy almost simultaneous opening of pairs of doors. When exiting the kitchen to the dining room with hands filled its make for more convenient access.
