Taikang Road is gradually becoming a charming amalgam of renovated warehouses and lanes, home to the city's most innovative design studios, boutique stores and art galleries.

A new Taikang resident is Bobbie Cornell. The New Zealander recently opened the Nuzi boutique, offering the very best furniture and accessories from the island country.

Prior to moving to Shanghai in March, the Auckland native had worked in Hong Kong for more than a decade as an architect and interior designer.

"Shanghai provided an excellent opportunity for me to continue my design consulting work, focusing on the creative/concept design area," Cornell said. "When a friend first took me to Taikang Road during a visit in January last year, I immediately fell in love with the character of the area."

On her return in March, Cornell noticed many new shops had opened and a casual enquiry revealed there were still a few retail spaces available. She signed a shop lease a couple of days later and initially planned to use the area as her studio.

"After further consideration, however, I decided this would be a perfect opportunity to bring something new to Shanghai and what better than to introduce creative and nature-inspired items from New Zealand where I grew up," Cornell said.

The highlight in the store is unique sculptured wooden furniture and light shades by David Trubridge, an award-winning designer in New Zealand. Nuzi is the Shanghai distributor and Cornell hopes to sell to both designers and private clients.

In his own design practice, Trubridge is investigating how to create the maximum structure with the minimum amount of material. All the wood he uses is from plantation-grown trees that are re-planted as fast as they are cut down.

Wooden lamp shades range from 2,000 yuan (US$256) to 8,800 yuan, up to large pieces of designer furniture at 8,000 yuan to 35,000 yuan.

Other products in Nuzi include prints and greeting cards from Brent Wond, a well-known New Zealand artist of Chinese descent. His greeting cards and prints capture the unique landscape of the serene country. Limited edition signed prints of his more recent work are available by special order.

Cornell also sells items by young and creative designers such as original paintings from Gabe Daly, a promising new artist from Vancouver. "The imagery of his work matches the theme of my studio."

The feather jewelry series by Audrey Hu of New York has been introduced to capture a broader customer base who desire unique fashion accessories. The uniquely-designed jewelry is worn by a number of well-known Hollywood celebrities, according to Cornell.

"Nuzi is different from other outlets catering mainly to tourists with Chinese-style arts and crafts products," Cornell said. "Our boutique aims to stimulate and introduce creativity predominantly from New Zealand, and to expand horizons in the introductions of arts, cultural exchange and design in the local scene."

As a designer, Cornell prefers that the products on display create the space, rather than to design an overwhelmingly designed space. "I hope the environment created is simple and functional, yet attractive and comfortable."

In addition to a shop outlet, the studio was designed so it could also be operated as a private lounge for small events in future. Natural materials were used wherever possible. The cockloft display "ladder" shelf and the rear wall, all used recycled timber sourced from the shop itself or from demolition sites across Taikang Road.

"Sail-like" blinds above the skylight provide a translucent shield hiding the washing from the residents above. This also brings a fresh feeling to the studio, similar to the water and sailing boats in Auckland Harbor.

"As an experienced and creative designer, I am confident that the area will grow in popularity and that local businesses will thrive," Cornell said.

Nuzi's future plans include bringing in a range of original design and art works for exhibition and sale in keeping with the key theme "inspired by nature."

Address: No. 30, Lane 248 Taikang Road
Tel:021-5465-3245