A Wall Within “The Chinese Wall”

Abstract

This thesis explores how interior architecture can help us hold onto the stories and memories embedded in the spaces around us. This project takes place in a space that has been left empty since 2016—a former Chinese restaurant in Gothenburg called “Kinesiska muren,” which translates to “The Chinese Wall”, known by many as a cultural landmark as well as being Q-marked, meaning it is officially protected in Gothenburg’s local development plan due to its cultural and historical significance. I’ve been given the task by the current tenants that I am collaborating with, Johannes W. and Klængur G., to build a wall that separates the bathrooms from a future bar in what will become a multifunctional cultural hub. Rather than designing a simple divider, I saw this as an opportunity to engage with the building’s history. The wall is constructed from reused windows and door frames that once belonged to this building and others nearby. Through this intervention, I explore how interior architecture can preserve traces of what used to be, while also supporting sustainability and adaptive reuse. Grounded in phenomenology and ontological design, the work reflects on how people experience space through memory, material, and atmosphere—and how even a single wall can tell a story about a changing city