Closely monitoring the sensibilities of China‘s burgeoning middle class, household brand Bapa has recently inaugurated a boutique specifically dedicated to a curated range of contemporary homeware and apparel designs. Tucked away in an alley just off Maoming Nan Lu, a bustling thoroughfare in Shanghai‘s Jing’an neighbourhood, it occupies a 40 sqm. (431 sq.ft.) space on the ground floor of a traditional residential structure. Designed by local practice Non Studio Research & Design, the store features an understated yet welcoming aesthetic that very much looks as if another structure, crafted from compressed wood boards and complete with decorative window and door openings, has been inserted into the space.

The intentional layering adds to the shopping experience at Bapa, inspiring shoppers to explore all of the boutique’s nooks and crannies. An inconspicuous entrance on street level opens onto a long and narrow corridor that leads to an antechamber of sorts. Here, the dark timber sales counter sits directly opposite shelving units crafted from light timber. On one side, a wall cut-out reveals offers a glimpse of the adjacent semi-concealed space where pottery is exhibited on recessed shelving units and an elongated tiered display, and which can be reached by way of an elevated corridor on the other side. Timber cabinets in this corridor display a selection of garments and shoes, while a bay window situated halfway allows in floods of daylight.