A Place of Respite

Designed by Taipei-based Degree Design studio, this modern yet austere Taiwan home redefines comfort, the minimalist way

At first glance, this 77-square-metre Taipei apartment may seem a little bare, but it is around this apparent formality that local studio Degree Design defined the home’s quietude and sense of respite. What is immediately apparent is the angularity of the space: the open layout is delineated with clean, sharp lines that bring structure, while smooth, uncluttered surfaces add to the apartment’s neat geometry. ‘I like to use vertical and horizontal divisions in a layout, to make the space neat and tidy,’ explains Han Tseng, chief designer at Degree Design. ‘We use simple lines combined with different materials, so the space is layered but not cluttered.’

In order to allow natural light to circulate — which was one of the main requests from the home’s single owner — Tseng turned the original three-bedroom, two-living space layout into an open plan, with hidden sliding doors to define the public and private areas. ‘As you slide the doors open, you see the horizontal and vertical lines in the space come together in a three-dimensional way,’ he says. ‘This improves the overall flow of the house and allows you to move easily and smoothly throughout, while providing more ambient light to living areas.’

According to Tseng, this sense of flow was integral to the design scheme. ‘We aimed to create a place of peaceful comfort and solitude in each room, while allowing a partial view through the entire living space. This provides an uninterrupted view and flow throughout the living space.’

Thin black iron shelves of various sizes were placed at the same height to let light in, and simple wooden shelving units and cabinets are discreet storage spaces. ‘The attention to design details combined with practical storage space adds fun, character and style without loud colours or complex textures,’ Tseng says. ‘We wanted to get back to the simplicity and minimalism of living.’ Complementing a minimal colour palette of white, black, anthracite and stone blue are cement paint and dark tiles in parts of the home, bringing natural textures and variation to the space.

In the living room, Tseng created custom iron-plate storage space for the owner’s collection of books and vinyl records — a subtle detail that reveals much about the designer’s approach: essential, thoughtful and focused on his client’s individual taste and needs.

Text / Nina Milhaud
Images / Hey! Cheese