W. W. Designs, Inc.: Runner-up of World Design Awards 2025. Emerging from the 2020–2022 pandemic, this rare solo design endeavor was entirely conceived and constructed by the designer. Life is a voyage, and home is its harbor—a timeless idea that transcends cultures and geography. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the designer deeply connected with this shared sentiment, inspiring him to create a “family harbor” within his home’s courtyard.

The harbor concept brings together a grand yet intimate scene, where nearly every element of the courtyard embodies the essence of boats, evoking the rhythmic swells of a distant sea within this small inland space. Sixty-eight sculptural “boats” are docked in lively arrangements, forming a family haven and serving as a graceful tribute to society’s resilience during the pandemic. Through the lens of a small courtyard, the project conveys a broader social narrative.

With unique gathering places reminiscent of being on water and aboard boats, it serves as an inspiring model for the evolution of future living environments. At the same time, the project introduces innovations that transform the most basic living unit into a large, functional piece of environmental art.

By blending Eastern and Western cultural influences, merging past and present, and embracing a spirit of interconnectedness, the project introduces a bold, dynamic, and joyful new way of living. The entire setting is interactive and infused with the innovative mindset of the digital era, standing in stark contrast to conventional courtyard design.

Moreover, a 60-year-old designer single-handedly created this project at a remarkably low cost, demonstrating its feasibility and adaptability. As a distinctive and forward-thinking endeavor, it underscores the boundless potential for improving existing human settlements. The small courtyard, as a fundamental unit of the built environment, holds the key to pioneering diverse and innovative models that could reshape human living spaces on a global scale. This project showcases the immense potential for human settlements to become more vibrant and diverse.

May this project inspire future living environments—offering humanistic solace, spiritual uplift, and enduring memories of the pandemic era.

For more details about the project, please visit the link below.

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/1061161086/2ac771d18e?share=copy
YouTube: https://youtu.be/qPd4GVo6Zvo

Project Details:-
Firm
W. W. Designs, Inc.

Architect
Wister Wenbing Wu

Project Name
Dreaming in the Lotus Bay

Project Category
Landscape Design (Built)

Team
Wister Wenbing Wu

Project Location
Norman

Country
United States

Photography ©Credit
©Wister Wenbing Wu & Lester Yucheng Wu

W. W. Designs, Inc. was founded in 1998 by Mr. Wister Wu in Norman, Oklahoma, USA. The firm specializes in conceptual and schematic design for planning, architecture, interiors, and landscape projects. Mr. Wu has led numerous residential, commercial, educational, and sports projects, earning multiple design excellence awards. In just over a year, he has been honored with the Global Human Settlements Award on Planning and Design from GFHS, the MUSE Design Awards Gold, the London Design Awards Gold, the France Design Awards Silver, and was a finalist for the UK FX International Interior Design Awards.