Six years ago, Priscilla Chen wrote, illustrated and published a book about Beijing's traditional quadrangle houses. A Quadrangle in Beijing: The Story of a Chinese House, an illustrated pop-up book that takes readers through a courtyard house, was an instant hit and the 1,000 copies of the first edition quickly sold out.
The second edition comes out next month and this time, the fashion designer is planning an unusual launch. In collaboration with Ho Puay-peng, head of the architecture department at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, she is putting together an exhibition, In the Spirit of the Siheyuan, on the quadrangle houses.
In the Rotunda at Exchange Square, 2.8-metre-high wall panels will simulate the spatial layout of a siheyuan, from the front gate to the inner sanctuary. Indoor trees will recreate the shady atmosphere of a courtyard house while 18th-century furniture will illustrate the decor of the principal room.
'The exhibition captures the essence and form of the siheyuan - the symmetry, order, and balance of spatial layout, laid on the central axis, which is fundamental to Chinese architecture, and also the harmonious relationship between nature and dwelling places,' says Chen.
Chen, the designer behind cashmere design line Apsara, says her interest in architecture should not come as a surprise. 'Both fashion and architecture are about form, structure and function. Like fashion, houses evolve because of lifestyle.'
It is often easy to forget about Chen's Chinese background; she lived in London for 16 years and has a posh English accent.
