Kris Lin International Design: Winner of International Residential Architecture Awards 2025. The essence of villa design lies in achieving a symbiotic balance between nature and life. The four-story space of VILLA 49 integrates the dual functions of private tranquility and clubhouse socialization, with “embracing nature” as its core concept. Adopting a comprehensive “architecture-landscape-interior-soft furnishings” integrated design approach, the villa features two highlights—the Water Cube swimming pool and the Glass Box restaurant—paired with the design languages of “oversized dimensions” and “ultimate minimalism,” seamlessly blending villa life with nature.

1. Comprehensive “Architecture-Landscape-Interior-Soft Furnishings” Integration

Through pillar-free corner glass curtain walls in the dining area, triple-link folding door systems in the bedrooms, movable partitions, and frameless glass staircases, the design emphasizes transparency and lightness, dissolving boundaries to achieve a high degree of integration between indoor and outdoor spaces. Instead of clear “walls,” the design creates a continuous experience where “natural scenery extends with the space.” The open and transparent spatial design allows for a better embrace of nature.

2. Two Highlights: The Water Cube Swimming Pool and the Glass Box Restaurant

To thoroughly address the issues of insufficient natural light and low ceiling height in the original basement, a comprehensive light-guiding strategy was implemented. This involved removing interior windowless walls, excavating light wells, and incorporating a borderless transparent swimming pool in the ground-level garden. The pool, made of highly transparent acrylic, directs natural light from top to bottom into the underground space. Combined with a high-reflectance ceiling system, this strategy visually enhances the ceiling height. Ultimately, natural light and shadows interweave through the water, creating a dynamic and dreamy artistic atmosphere that allows the originally constrained social space to break through physical limitations and merge with the natural landscape.

Starting from the concept of “dissolving boundaries,” the building extensively employs oversized minimalist glass doors and windows. The dining area is conceived as a transparent “glass box,” with three sides entirely made of high-transparency glass, seamlessly integrating the garden greenery and riverside views into the interior. This approach not only allows light, sightlines, and airflow to permeate freely but also creates an immersive natural living experience, making one feel as if they are strolling through nature even within a confined space.

3. The Pursuit of Oversized Dimensions and Minimalism

The space extensively utilizes large-format natural materials to create a grand visual tone. At the same time, every detail—from ultra-wide glass interfaces and oversized curtains to ultra-thin drawers and slender glass frames—is meticulously controlled. Each element of “perfection” serves nature and life, achieving the design goal of “minimalist elements carrying rich experiences.”

Project Details:-
Firm
Kris Lin International Design

Designer
Kris Lin

Project Name
VILLA 49

Project Category
Villa Design Built

Team
Kris Lin , Anda Yang

Project Location
Shanghai

Country
China

Photography ©Credit
©Kris Lin International Design

Kris Lin International Design has been rooted in Shanghai for 23 years, serving China’s top 100 real estate developers and Southeast Asian projects. Specializing in integrated architectural, interior, soft decoration, and landscape design, KLID adheres to the philosophy of “Innovation through expertise, vision with depth.” Led by Kris Lin and Director Yang Jiayu, the firm has created numerous iconic projects, upholding originality and pursuing excellence.