A sanctuary from stre
When Johnny Panagiotidis and Johannes Tan got the chance to live in a refurbished lane house in Shanghai, they leaped at it.
The three-story house in a historical lane off Nanjing Road W. reflects the duo’s earthy yet sophisticated style. While modernizing its interior, the cozy home retains its charm.
Tan, a Chinese Filipino who has lived in the city for 14 years, works as a headhunter for a professional services firm that recruits senior consumer retail executives.
Panagiotidis, a Greek Australian, has worked for a marketing insights consultancy agency for eight years.
“I suppose, like lots of expats in Shanghai, we wanted to experience living in a more traditional laneway home but didn’t want to forgo all the comforts of living in a modern space,” Panagiotidis said.
They desired a location near Jing’an District for their long work hours and proximity to workplaces, cafes and eateries. On the first day of looking, they found this perfect home on the border of Huangpu and Jing’an districts. Most of their usual destinations are walkable or bikeable.
“Once we walked in, we immediately
Our home is our sanctuary. Shanghai moves at such a frenetic pace, and working in the corporate sector can be stressful at times, so you need somewhere to escape and withdraw from it all.
knew we wanted to live in the space and didn’t look at any others that day,” Panagiotidis said.
Besides the sleek, basic style, the duo enjoyed the house’s high ceilings and sky windows, which gave it a sense of space and openness.
“The huge skylight two levels above illuminates the living space when you enter. Large skylights in the master bedroom and bathroom provide views of the sky and clouds during showers and bedtime,” he said.