The project is to renovate a ground floor unit apartment in Beijing and build a new outdoor bath in the private garden on the north side.
This residence is designed with a focus on barrier-free accessibility, as the primary occupants will be the owner, who is in his 50s, and his elderly parents. The design before the renovation featured stage-like steps that mimicked European mansions, which were inconvenient for elderly residents.
Therefore, the low living room has been raised by 30 cm to create a flat dwelling space and eliminate height differences indoors. Only the south side of the living room has the floor lowered to its original height, allowing for the placement of a sofa in this elevated area, transforming it into a distinct coffee space separate from the living room.
Although it is not possible to eliminate the level differences at the entrance and the south-side tea room, safety is ensured by providing handrails and custom-built furniture that can support the body. Handrails are also installed in areas like the bathroom where there is a risk of falling, but they are designed to blend in by doubling as lighting fixtures to avoid looking like standard safety equipment. Additionally, features such as sliding doors designed with wheelchair access in mind, a walk-through toilet anticipating future caregiving needs, and a layout without dead ends create a balance between accessibility and design.
The open-air bath in the south garden is connected to the main bedroom's bathroom by a wooden corridor. To balance privacy and openness, the lower part is left open, while the area from the waist up is fully enclosed with sliding wooden doors. The roof is designed with angled louvers that block views from above while allowing for an unobstructed line of sight when soaking in the bath.
While the above describes the main design elements of this project, what we consistently prioritize above all else is natural lighting and ventilation. In typical Chinese condominium developments, redundant layouts that seem focused solely on maximizing floor area often result in deep rooms that are dark, unventilated, and give an overall gloomy impression. Therefore, in the revised room arrangement, we placed the utmost emphasis on allowing light and air to flow through the space. The guest room, which doubles as a Japanese-style room, is normally left open to let in more natural light, and all bathrooms are positioned to face the exterior, ensuring even minimal access to light and ventilation. Sliding doors prevent individual rooms from blocking light flow. With these adjustments, we believe that allowing healthy light and pleasant breezes to move freely within the home is the ultimate form of barrier-free design.
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