Set within a tree-lined residential district in Tianjin, a Provençal-style villa has been transformed by Diverse Studio into a contemporary family home shaped by fluid minimalism, tactile materiality, and subtle architectural contrasts. Originally conceived for a car enthusiast and his multi-generational family, the renovation evolved over the course of two years into a deeply collaborative process between owner and designers, resulting in a residence that balances sculptural restraint with warmth and livability.
While the villa’s exterior retains much of its original romantic character, including terracotta roof tiles, arched openings, and a turret-like silhouette, the architectural interventions introduce a distinctly contemporary counterpoint. The most striking addition appears at the entrance, where a wave-like canopy floats above the driveway in a gesture inspired by automotive aerodynamics. Beside it, a minimalist white garage volume reinforces the contrast between the home’s nostalgic shell and its new identity. Toward the rear of the property, a detached pavilion resembling a futuristic capsule serves as a retreat for the owner’s father, overlooking the lakeside landscape and designed for fishing, gathering, and quiet evenings with friends.
Inside, the transformation becomes far more radical. Decorative detailing has been stripped away in favor of a continuous and highly fluid spatial language defined by rounded transitions, curved partitions, and sculptural built-in forms. Drawing inspiration from the streamlined geometry of automobiles, walls, ceilings, and furniture elements appear to flow seamlessly into one another, softening the boundaries between rooms and creating an almost cinematic sense of movement throughout the house.
The material palette remains intentionally restrained yet richly tactile. Micro-cement surfaces wrap walls, cabinetry, and architectural elements in a soft matte texture durable enough for everyday family life, while large-format stone flooring on the ground level amplifies natural light filtering through expansive glazing. Upstairs, wood flooring introduces a warmer atmosphere to the private quarters, contrasting gently with exposed concrete beams and structural elements left visible to enhance the home’s material depth.
The open-plan living and dining spaces unfold through a sequence of carefully composed curves and organic forms populated by a mix of contemporary and vintage design pieces. Sculptural seating arrangements are paired with iconic furniture including the Mushroom Chair by Pierre Paulin, alongside 1970s lounge chairs by Kwok Hoi Chan and space-age dining chairs by Gastone Rinaldi. These elements subtly reinforce the home’s dialogue between softness, futurism, and nostalgia.
On the upper floor, the bedrooms continue the project’s calm and immersive atmosphere. The master suite incorporates a freestanding glass shower enclosure and a sunken bathtub that introduce a ritualistic, spa-like quality, while one of the children’s rooms balances playfulness and practicality through terrazzo flooring and floral textiles.
Through this renovation, Diverse Studio demonstrates how minimalism can remain expressive, emotional, and deeply connected to everyday life. By merging aerodynamic forms, restrained materials, and moments of nostalgic warmth, the studio transforms a faux-Provençal villa into a contemporary home that feels simultaneously futuristic and timeless.
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Photo: (c) Xiao Tan