Global Luxury Property Design Conference Schedule

The luxury residential market in China blossomed in the last generation, as a new prosperous consuming class emerged. That class’s modern tastes, behaviour and outlook are influenced by the mature design and development processes from the west. Design is more important than ever to sharpen the competitive edge and give distinction to a project.

When ‘Unique’ becomes a core competitive advantage, how do the world's top luxury homes use design to break away from homogenisation? From the Minimalist Style alongside New York's Central Park to the Eastern aesthetic along Shanghai's Bund, and the futuristic design in Dubai's desert — this  session will take you across geographical boundaries to decode the design DNA that makes a project irreplicable: it is an interpretation of culture, an integration of technology, and a precise capture of the spiritual needs of residents. The power of design goes beyond this.

Deborah Oppenheimer in conversation with Conference Director Aidan Walker

Design Shenzhen's Luxury Residential Property conference opens with three diferent points of view on the global market, and there could be no one single designer who understands that market more deeply and efectively than Deborah Oppenheimer. Born in South Africa to Swiss and German parents, after a spell in advertising Deborah followed her artistic love of textiles into fashion design, and only later developed her design skills to creating luxurious, sensuous and spectacular interiors for clients all across the globe. London, California, East Hampton, Gstaad, Oxfordshire, Hong Kong, Phillipines,Vietnam, South Africa, Shanghai … we are fascinated by the diversity of her output and its underlying inspirations. She strives to generate an atmosphere of tranquillity; she matches a 'restrained African' design language with an 'Ornamental Asian' one; and as always with the most successful creatives, nurtures a deep passion for craft, which is expressed in her own designs for furniture and accessories. We are lucky to have her, and more to have persuaded her to join our panel tomorrow afternoon on 'Future Home: what "What really turns the luxury homeowner on?'.

In the third of our national / international exporation of the themes, both commercial and creative, driving luxury residential development, we are delighted to welcome Soo K. Chan, principal of SCDA Architects, who has created projects in this market area on a huge scale all over the world, and, significantly, also acts as his own developer. 'My motivation to be a developer is to allow me to be pure as an architect', he says.  The practice's work in New York, India, Indonesia, Bali and Shenzhen – to name but a few – shows that he truly speaks an international design language. Mr Chan has a provocative take on green architecture: 'Beyond sustainability,' he says, 'there is the formal and spatial expression of architecture in context… As an architect, how do you distil the essence of place? How do you evoke a spirituality of place formally? I use green architecture to generate these feelings and to humanize spaces'.

Is the paradigm for luxury housing in today's world still New York or Los Angeles? Are there other noteworthy cities to choose from? We hope to hear representatives from emerging luxury property markets share their experiences and perspectives on the regional differences and potential of the global luxury market.

What an owner wants from their bespoke luxury home, whether a main dwelling or a weekend or holiday retreat, should be an expression of that individual’s passions in life. Space must offer the experience of wellness in all its aspects: a healthy lifestyle, exercise, a healing / calm place, a place to enjoy nature or indoor leisure pursuits. This generation of luxury property owners puts great importance on sustainability, energy and resource efficiency, so we are seeing innovations in sustainable technology supporting those demands.

As the design-conscious middle class in China has gained in prosperity, so has the demand for luxury property. But it’s not only demand that has proliferated; now there is a variety of design approaches, driven in some cases by owners’ preoccupations and enthusiams, in other cases by Sustainability, in other cases by a a growing desire to re-engage with the natural world. There is also the question of Chinese tradition, in craft and materials, balanced against a Modernism that comes both from China and the West. How do designers employ, mix and match these trends? A panel of distinguished practitioners discusses the ways forward.

Chung Han Tang, the distinguished award-winning Taiwanese interior designer, explains the ideas behind the exhibition feature WELLFORM, which he has created in collaboration with Design Shenzhen. The installation explores the integration of Wellness and the forms of space it generates, systematically constructing a full-chain high-end residential solution focused on health.

‘What you see is not design, but life,’ says Chung Han Tang. ‘Just remember one thing in life: find what you love. Born in Asia and originating from the East, we tell the story of space with the most sincere humanistic spirit. Our interior design stems from our passion for life, vitality, and simplicity’.

Design Shenzhen, in collaboration with renowned Asian spatial designer Chung Han Tang, has launched the feature WELLFORM, centered on the theme “Design the Living Form of Wellness.” This initiative deeply explores the integration of “Wellness” and spatial “Form”.

In today's pursuit of quality living, the core value of luxury homes has transcended physical space and evolved into a holistic concern for an exceptional lifestyle, physical and mental well-being, and nurturing recreational spaces. This session focuses on ‘commercial amenities’ as a key enabler, exploring how forward-thinking planning and positioning, coupled with refined operational strategies, can elevate commercial amenities from basic services to a core driver of residents' daily happiness, social vitality, and health levels. We cordially invite speaker to join us in defining the new commercial paradigm for future healthy living environments.

This session will explore how top-tier luxury residences transcend material opulence to become healthy living environments that nurture both body and mental, from three dimensions: Lifestyle, Health / Wellbeing and Recreation. We hope that the sharing of insights among leading innovators will spark the creation of new benchmarks for residential design.

Luxury property designers and homeowners in China are now combining international styles with the rich traditions of local, regional and national influences. Traditional, opulent luxury mixes with the Oriental historical style to make Oriental modern, while China’s versions of Minimalism and Modernism respond to Western traditionalism. Case studies focus on investment opportunities and show examples of ultra-modern new build or re-imaginings of (for instance) postindustrial buildings, which spark the designer’s creativity and make something unique to its owner.

The renovation of heritage buildings is never merely about functional reimagining; it also involves the challenge of preserving cultural heritage: how can the historical symbols of old buildings be seamlessly integrated into modern living spaces? How can regional cultural elements avoid becoming mere superficial decorations? This topic addresses the practical challenges of implementation, discussing both how to preserve the architectural memory points during structural renovations and how to make local culture an integral and functional part of the space. Speaker will share case studies on how to adapt heritage buildings to modern living needs while rejuvenating them with cultural warmth.

In the context of Chinese culture, how to reconstruct spatial aesthetics with a pastoral atmosphere is the core of this session. We hope to hear how designers use their ingenuity to apply local aesthetics to modern design, turning living spaces into poetic environments that are both livable and enjoyable, and to appreciate the contemporary interpretation of Eastern aesthetics in luxury home design.

In this session, we look forward to hearing from artists, painters, or other friends outside the luxury property industry, who will share their perspectives on how to make home décor and layout more tasteful, stylish, and homely. We are concerned not only with the moment when a luxury home is delivered, but also with the long years of comfortable living that follow.

When Chinese residential philosophy meets the contemporary natural context, how can we avoid symbolism and translate traditional imagery into real-life scenarios? From courtyard layouts that echo the light and shadows of seasons, to natural materials such as bamboo and stone that are adapted to modern residential functions; from borrowed scenery techniques that solve the spatial claustrophobia of luxury homes, to Eastern aesthetics of negative space that balance the needs of everyday storage. Reusable design logic allows nature and Eastern aesthetics to truly integrate into the everyday residential experience.

All design and architecture projects are the result of collaborative and creative work between different disciplines, from the identification and purchase of land to the final choice of furnishing fabrics. Our panellists - a dedveloper, an interior designer and a landcape designer – share insights and experiences from working with other professionals. How do we engage with a new generation of clients who want to enjoy luxury living but are also mindful of traditional Chinese aesthetics and modern concerns of sustainability and technology?

Combined with this is an overall impetus to engage with the most advanced home management technologies: a home is not a home unless it’s ‘Smart’. Embedded sensors and big data combine to create a seamless system of ‘home control’, managing heat, lighting, security and a host of other domestic issues.

Bullet Points: 

1. The valuation of luxury residences in China will progressively incorporate technology performance metrics related to occupants, in addition to traditional indicators such as location, unit layout, and amenities;
2. Performance factors such as acoustics, air quality, water, lighting, security, craftsmanship, and sustainability will become key considerations for homebuyers;
3. Distinctive living scenarios enabled by technical performance systems will become significant differentiators for luxury residential projects.

Chinese design forces are sweeping across the globe. We look forward to seeing more Chinese designers, styles, and projects truly go global and make their mark, while addressing issues such as cultural translation, balancing construction logic, and adapting to different national building code requirements.

When digital technology is integrated into luxury home living, how can technology be more than just a gimmick and instead become a powerful tool that genuinely enhances the living experience? This session will focus on the ‘digital implementation scenarios’ that high-net-worth individuals care about: from how smart control systems can achieve customised interactions tailored to individual residents, to how whole-home digital twin technology can proactively mitigate potential risks; from the seamless integration of health monitoring devices with living spaces, to how remote maintenance systems can address the pain points of luxury home management. The aim is to show audiences the tangible changes that technology-enabled living upgrades can bring.
 

This topic will explore the future landscape of artificial intelligence reshaping the home ecosystem. When AI evolves into a ‘residential partner that understands needs,’ what qualitative changes will occur in high-end residential properties? This goes beyond the increasingly widespread smart control systems, focusing  on how AI can anticipate residents' health needs, autonomously optimise energy consumption in living spaces, and even use emotional computing to tailor the environment to the preferences of each family member. Breakthroughs in AI's capabilities for personalised services and risk warning systems reveal how technological evolution aligns with the deeper aspirations of luxury living.

The technological revolution is reshaping the landscape of luxury home design. In this panel discussion, we focus on how cutting-edge AI technology and innovative design concepts can precisely align with the needs of luxury home owners. How will future high-end residences utilise smart home technology to enhance spatial experiences and promote mental well-being? How will design trends resonate with homeowners' pursuit of quality and individuality while resisting the mechanical feel of technology? Experts will delve into the endless possibilities of integrating technology and design, revealing the ultimate key to captivating the top 0.1% in the post-materialistic era.