An Eclectic Yet Highly Functional City Apartment
Realised by AODA InteriorDesign, this compact apartment was turned into a flexible and functional living space that combines contemporary comfort with refined design strategies. Design directors Anny Hong and Hugo Shen share more about the project
Design Anthology: How did you first meet the client?
Anny Hong (AH): We met the client through a friend and we immediately got along. When it came time to design her first home, she asked us.
Can you tell us about the client and her lifestyle?
Hugo Shen (HS): The owner loves outdoor activities and exercising, so we wanted to include a lot of indoor natural light and optimise the flow in the apartment. She also enjoys cooking and collects tableware. Other requests included the incorporation of a high-quality sound system and concealed storage space for books and groceries.
What was the brief to you for the project?
AH: The brief was to design a fully functional and serene home for the client to come back to after a stressful day. By incorporating and layering various architectural techniques, we breathed new life into the 30-square-metre space and brought in a fusion of different characteristics.
How did you approach the project — what design references did you try to incorporate space?
HS: We turned the original apartment’s cramped and divided rooms into a single, open and airy space that is both functional and flexible. We revamped the TV wall panels, bookshelves and mezzanine using different techniques to maximise the space both horizontally and vertically. We also redesigned the stairs to take advantage of the natural light entering through the window, and gave them a geometric silhouette to accentuate the space’s bold aesthetic. A wooden screen has the double function of concealing shelving and acting as a flexible partition between the bedroom and the living area.
Please tell us a little about the material choices for the space.
AH: We chose naturally patterned materials like fair-faced concrete, terrazzo, wood veneer and rattan to complement the black and midnight-blue palette. The iron stairs and the cubic kitchen island evoke a sense of modern minimalism and are juxtaposed with bold decorative elements to give the space a unique style.
Do you have a favourite element or design detail in the interiors?
HS: The stairs are our favourite element — their structure and the curved handle give them an airy, sleek silhouette. The rattan cabinet doors in the living room are another great piece of work. The delicate metalware works with the rattan to create a simple yet textured detail.
Images / Jackal Liu Photography
