Yan Zhang and Jianan Shan share a reverence for process and an intimate understanding of design nuance. These commonalities led them to form Say Architects in 2017, and in that short time, their portfolio of singular projects has shown the range and prestige of a more seasoned practice.
Following studies at Chang’an University in Xi’an, China, Zhang finessed his architectural skills at landscape design firm BAM and Steven Holl Architects, while Shan, who embarked on personal design projects ahead of graduating from Zhejiang University, honed his craft at studios including KOO and Schmidt Hammer Lassen.
Zhang cites architectural titans like Le Corbusier among his heroes, while Shan gravitates more toward John Pawson’s clean simplicity. Projects like the minimal yet palatial Little Nap hostel in Hangzhou, China, stand at the intersection of these dual vernaculars. A similarly streamlined aesthetic punctuates the façade of Angelot patisserie, while refined interiors show off a sinuous whimsy.
Ultimately, the firm is less interested in promoting a distinctive style than remaining steadfast in pursuing a consistently innovative approach. As Shan puts it, “Style will simply limit people’s thinking, but design method won’t.” Zhang, too, says he views this model as the firm’s calling card. “We try to maximize our imagination and create diverse solutions each time.”
An undulating arrival experience leads to Angelot patisserie in Hangzhou
Take a small residential project they worked on for two years. The designers monitored the way the client and her cat moved through the space over a 12-hour period, “creating a design truly based on their living behaviors,” Shan says. “It was a very interesting project and a bold concept, and we made it real.”
The pair likens their office to a forum where discourse is not only encouraged but expected, crediting that openness for their compelling designs. “If you [think] your idea is the right way to go, you have to prove it yourself,” Zhang explains.
Beyond their appreciation of craft, Zhang and Shan never separate themselves from their work. “I always quote film director Martin Scorsese when I’m with my team,” says Zhang. “‘The most personal is the most creative.’ The design has to be personal to reach [people].”
Little Nap hostel in Hangzhou embraces a sense of openness
The interiors of N² are marked by curves, including seating done in pink and gray
This article originally appeared in HD’s July 2020 issue.
