UNVEILING ITSU SHO SHA: ED NG AND TERENCE NGAN'S DESIGN REVOLUTION

“A home should be like a mirror; you should see your soul reflected in it. It should always express the personalities of those who will live there, making it either one of the most challenging design briefs, or the easiest, depending on how well the designer and occupants are acquainted. Terence and I are very eclectic because we love travelling, art, and handicrafts, but we never set limitations on our preferences. Anything that brings us joy, from mid-century furniture to a stuffed toy sitting in the middle of the living room, is welcome in our home. This eclectic approach makes the house reflect who we are. We don’t go for anything pretentious. If we want something flamboyant, we go for it. If we like minimalism in a part of the house, we keep it minimal. Hence, we don’t adhere to a specific style. It’s simply our home”. 

This is what Ed Ng - Chinese interior designer - stated during an interview about Itsu Sho Sha, a mansion he realized with the architect Terence Ngan. 

Itsu Sho Sha stands as a remarkable example of how design can seamlessly blend culture, creativity, care and functionality.

Ed and Terence’s project showcases their exceptional vision, expertise and ability to combine modern and traditional design elements, creating a space that arouses a sense of calm and tranquility, while awakening a deep connection with the environment.

With its outstanding, harmonious design, Itsu Sho Sha keeps on inspiring and providing an experience that transcends the mere aesthetics in order to create a contemplative and immersive space. 

AB Concept is an interior architectural design studio founded in 1999 by Terence Ngan and Ed Ng. Under the visionary guidance of the two, AB Concept has become synonymous with sophisticated, contemporary interiors that combine timeless elegance with cutting-edge design. 

The studio boasts offices in Hong Kong, Taipei and Milan, but it resonates worldwide, with clients in London, New York and in many other cities across the world. Moreover, it is known for its recurrent partnerships with internationally renowned brands such as Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Ritz Carlton, Rosewood and W Hotels.

AB Concept, prominent in the luxury field, stresses the importance of a comprehensive approach to design, one that goes beyond conventional interior aesthetics in order to provide a space that is memorable, functional and intimate. 

Every project Ed Ng and Terence Ngan work on represents an opportunity for them to tell a story, appeal to the human senses and last but not least to enhance the experience of the spaces they design. 

Among the duo’s latest projects, there’s their private residence in Karuizawa, in the South-eastern part of Japan’s Nagano Prefecture. The name itself - Itsu Sho Sha - refers to the functionality of the design as a home, its location alongside Japan’s native red pine trees, and a leisurely state of mind. 

During an interview Ng declared that the couple fell in love with the place the first time they visited it in 2005. The mansion was supposed to be a holiday retreat in the hills for Ed and Terence in order to escape from their busy schedules, but in the end it turned out to be their main residence. 

“Living here is more than just being in a beautiful location; it’s about embracing the tranquillity and charm that drew us in from the start”, claimed Ng. 

Nature plays a significant role in shaping the mansion, becoming an active component of it. As a matter of fact, built on a slope, the roofline mimics the mountain’s contours to merge with the picturesque surroundings. Moreover, Japanese cedar wood - regarded as one of the greatest woods for both indoor and outdoor use - is extensively utilized throughout the structure to create ambiance, cosiness, and a woodland scent.

The house provides a 360-degree perspective of Karuizawa as if it were hovering among its elevated plains due to its high (up to 5 metres), low ceilings and massive window walls.

The form of the residence was inspired by the recent pandemic lockdown which forced everyone to rethink their routines; as a matter of fact, it is supposed to represent a small village composed by four separate buildings over 4,600 sqm.

Like every majestic work, it did not lack a challenge: to this regard, considering Japan’s strong propensity to earthquakes, it was necessary to design the building to be earthquake-resistant.

Additionally, the duo envisioned an 8-by-8-meter structure with four pencil columns as a “Greenhouse” to counterbalance Karuizawa’s cold months. Ed and Terence use this area as a winter getaway when the green foliage of the surrounding area turns grey due to the cold.

Aside from these implementations, the designers’ ability to be creatively free enabled them to approach the project with a considered slowness and mindfulness.

“We understood the environment and our lifestyle, and we knew how we wanted to enjoy living close to nature. We already had a master plan in mind, but this plan continued to evolve as we worked on it. Since we are the owners, we were fully responsible for any changes and decisions, and this gave us the freedom to shape it as we liked. Even now, we are constantly making small changes here and there as we live in it”.

The common areas in the main house are roomy and welcoming, while most of the walls are made of glass. As a matter of fact, the bold windows - also employed in the master bedroom - let the seasons-driven colour scheme of the landscape shine through the interiors’ neutral and minimalistic hues. 

The residence is unique in itself: many statement pieces contribute to adorn its ambiance, turning it into a “one-of-a-kind” mansion.

Among them the Papa Bear Chair designed by Hans Wegner, the Lounge Chair and Ottoman, model 5761 by Edward Wormley for Dunbar Janus, the Lalique Chene Dining Table, the Viola Chair (designed by AB Concept) by Poltrona Frau, and the Sengu Sofa by Cassina. 

The property is made up of several distinct pieces, including the main house - with a living room, a dining room, and a study room - a gym and yoga studio, a drawing studio, an outdoor hot spring, a greenhouse and a separate guesthouse that provides a comfortable place for family and friends.

PHOTOGRAPHER Owen Ragget tphotography