Green Massage in Shanghai by Vermilion Zhou Design Group.

Vermilion Zhou Design Group has created Green Massage in Shanghai’s Huangpu Qu district to emulate the mysterious beauty of the moon. Upon entering, clients are thrust into the depths of a different, calmer world. Continuously curving walls and a domed ceiling above fold around occupants, creating an interior experience that can be likened to the soft grey surface of the moon. Every design decision has been made to deliver a completely immersive sensory experience, where clients can let go of the fatigue of contemporary life.

A highly polished black floor gives way to textural grey walls that seamlessly transition into a domed ceiling. Homogenous interiors are momentarily interrupted with gold brass details which line the underside of doors and form the skeleton of inbuilt custom shelves. Limited furnishings sit quietly in the space, acting as an extension of the walls around them rather than bold, attention-grabbing features. Doors become shimmering portals, guiding those within to the next stage on their journey of relaxation.

“Moon Light” installation by artist Yang Yong becomes an important feature in the scheme. The piece encourages those within to distance themselves from the stresses of their individual lives, instead, marvelling at the beauty of our mysterious universe.

Light and shadow become integral to the performance of the space. Carefully curated moments of illumination bring an ethereal quality to the interior. A hallway, an often-overlooked pragmatic space, has been elevated to become one of the most exciting moments within the project. Hidden strip-lighting softly illuminates the ceiling, emphasising its curving form. The soft grey ceiling appears as if it were floating above, suspended in space. Strip-lights also line the base of the walls, creating a passageway closer aligned to that of a spaceship than a massage studio.

Vermilion Zhou Design Group’s moon-inspired wellness interior delivers a sensory massage experience that in moments feels fittingly other-worldly.

Related: Museum of the Moon: Luke Jerram’s Giant Illuminated Lunar Replica on World Tour.

[Images courtesy of Vermilion Zhou Design Group. Photography by Cai Yunpu.]