Residential / Private Residence
GIFE
Detached from reality and unequivocally connected to nature, GIFE lies in the quaint neighbourhood of Whampoa, Hong Kong. Following our design intervention, the apartment now relishes in the tranquillity of its context, by seamlessly pairing an open-planned layout with soft cream tones, curved elements, and warm textures.
Project: Private Residence
Size: 850 sq ft
Location: Laguna Verde, Whampoa
Completion Date: December 2021
Entering through the front door, the home unfolds around a central hallway. The front half of the home is reserved for the kitchen, living room, dining room, guest bathroom, and a multi-use, study and guest bedroom, while the rear of the home contains the master bedroom, ensuite, and his and her walk-in wardrobes.
The long hallway at the centre of the home signifies the shift from the public to private spaces, where the homeowners can easily disconnect themselves from the remainder of the home. For a striking contrast and to further mark a transition into the private spaces, the beige-toned walls turn into a deep brown.
The open-plan living and dining space cements the relaxed atmosphere within the home. We removed a number of obsolete walls to provide an easy connection between the two spaces, where a dining nook now occupies one of the unused corners of the home. A foldable window occupies one of the surrounding walls of this nook, providing the owners with a secondary eating or entertainment area. We also stripped back some of the more rigid detailing and went in favour of curvaceous edges to encourage a sense of flow and movement that lends seamlessly from one space into another.
To accentuate the coastal landscape, we created a series of moody, sombre spaces. In the living and dining room, for example, light timber floors are layered with dark timber furnishings and detailing, while beige hues wrap the walls. Ceiling-to-floor glass panels also wrap around the full width of the living room, inviting sunlight into the home and steeping the interior in a warm glow. Equal consideration was also given to the private spaces, where the master bedroom takes on a light persona - as compared to the living and dining room - dabbling in neutral and creamy, caramel hues of rattan to epitomise comfort and warmth. Potted plants are also placed throughout the home to inject a sense of liveliness to the interiors, recreating the calming and soothing feeling of nature.
To maximise space, we also custom-designed a handful of furnishings throughout the home, such as the built-in shelving, kitchen cabinets, ceiling height cupboards, and built-in seating in the dining area to better reflect the original geometries of the home while incorporating curvaceous edges. One of the many design challenges we faced was the extrusion of an oddly-shaped box like structure, located right on top of the dining space - that was not allowed to be removed. So that it did not stick out like an eyesore, we softened its boxy shape by adding another layer of plaster to complement the built-in seating below. White handmade ceramic tiles in the bathroom contrast the refinery of the marble sink, adding a personal charm and character unique to the home.
