This apartment embraces moments of pause while fostering a versatile living environment. It is a small apartment, so we combined two bedrooms and reconfigured the layout for three different functions: Study, walk-in wardrobe and sleeping. Thoughtfully incorporated steps and sliding partitions throughout the home encourage homeowners to pause and reflect on their day.
The client came to us to express his love for Japanese culture. He is also a chef and owns a Japanese restaurant. This is a home for him, his wife, and their dog. They would like to host and would not need a conventional living and dining space. Being a chef, he would like to incorporate a commercial kitchen. Reflecting their penchant for travel and collecting, they would like a space to showcase their treasures while having the flexibility to conceal them as desired. Emphasizing functionality, they require ample clothing storage and dedicated study areas, separated from the sleeping quarters, to cater to their professional and personal needs.
The design involves extracting the essence of Japanese elements, such as the ‘Genkan’, as a space for arrival and utilising various techniques to allow natural light to diffuse into the interior space. The lattice sliding door is one element that balances transparency and opacity, allowing light to diffuse gently into the foyer. It is also a shared door panel to the display cabinet, allowing adaptability for the homeowners to conceal or reveal their sake collection for different occasions when hosting gatherings.
The communal space diverges from the conventional destinated living and dining area by incorporating a platform with an integrated table lift. This mechanism allows it to transform into a mealtime surface or retract flush with the floor, maintaining an open and versatile space. Warm wood textures are introduced with shades of grey to imbue the space with tranquillity.