Chiffon Rhythm | TWM Interior Design | World Design Awards 2024

TWM Interior Design: Winner of World Design Awards 2024. The inspiration comes from the owner’s fondness of clean, pure colors and his desire to turn the space into a vacation home. Facing the disadvantages of the old building, such as the front and rear staircases occupying the lighting area and poor ventilation, the designer made changes to the layout and lighting direction to create a continuity and beauty. The patio, Roman columns, and hidden doors form a modern and cozy home that meets the owner’s requirements for privacy and comfort.

UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION／DIFFERENTIATION	Light and shadow on the patio: the fusion of nature and art The site is on the top floor. The designer dug out a patio above the staircase to facilitate natural lighting for socializing. The patio solves the problems of ventilation and lighting, and becomes an artistic highlight. Sunlight enters the space through the patio, enlarging the view. The clear design enhances the comfort of living and creates an atmosphere of perfect harmony with nature. The beauty of sequence: poetic interplay of light and shadow Roman columns and blinds create a beam of light in the space. The interplay of light and shadow creates a poetic aesthetic. Blinds can adjust the light, forming a layered effect, making the space full of dynamics and changes. The hidden door keeps the wall clean and seamless, achieving visual coherence and integration.
PRODUCTION OR REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY (AND MATERIALS)	System cabinets and paint are used extensively. Wooden doors are elegant and durable. The space is dominated by gray tones. A large area of pure white is applied as a base, making the boundary between light and darkness clearer, creating shadows of varying depths, and adding a sense of dimension and depth of field. The simple and unadorned color scheme creates a modern, minimalist and artistic style.
SPECIFICATIONS / DIMENSIONS / PACKAGE / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES	The site has a total area of 99.1 square meters, with 3 rooms, a living room, a dining room and 2 bathrooms. In terms of layout planning, the designer was faced with the challenge of poorly positioned columns. He took the concept of Roman columns to make the columns an intermediary rather than an obstacle for each area. The columns allude to the kitchen, dining room and living room, and capture the views along the long grid. The designer also constructed an unobstructed look through the use of diagonally cut cabinets and open plan. The detailing is reinforced by the use of uniform earthy tones on the large wall surfaces for continuity.
CHALLENGE	There were many challenges at the beginning. Firstly, the front and rear staircases took up valuable lighting area, making the overall ventilation and natural light insufficient. The designer had to find a way to compensate for this. Then, as a 40-year-old building, there were problems such as uneven floors, water leakage, and irregularities in the positioning of beams and columns, which added to the difficulty and complexity of the construction. Especially the design of the patio. Although it introduces an elegant light and shadow effect to the space, the leakage was the biggest challenge and required careful waterproofing.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION／FUNCTION	The significant changes before and after the construction are very refreshing. The original dark room was brightened by the patio. Natural light fills every corner, greatly enhancing the living experience. The patio becomes the centerpiece. It is perfectly positioned to link the social areas and create an interactive living space. Natural light fills the room during the day, while soft lighting creates a cozy atmosphere at night. The change of light and shadow makes life poetic and artistic and enhances the interaction and communication among family members.
FORM	“A Chiffon rhythm weaves light and shadow into a dreamlike home.” The designer realized the core of the interior design and introduced the preference of the occupants to the wall as the core of the aesthetics. He took the same color tone or the same color scale to divide and stack different materials in irregular lines. There is no intentional embellishment or technique, just following the contours of the site to create a rich visual effect. When people walk along the path, they can feel the change of light and shadow and the luster. The patio is the source of light and shadow changes in the space. Sunlight enters through the patio, and the natural beauty of the passage of time is presented. When light and shadow carve out the white and black of the interior, the whole space is filled with vitality and art. The occupants can experience the resonance of light and shadow at every moment.
RESEARCH ABSTRACT	The site is an old apartment. The name of the project is “Chiffon Rhythm “. Chiffon is a type of fabric that is finer than silk. The space is re-planned with soft natural lighting, like a cup of clear milky white for the container. The designer added a mellow flavor of life to the space. The designer created an innovative louvered patio for this old apartment on the third floor. Light gently falls from the louvers, outlining a simple and timeless look. The light source at the top is the most full and intense. Filtered by screen curtains, the interior and exterior are beautifully connected. The original pillar behind the sofa becomes the elegant boundary between the living room and the bedrooms. The designer integrated the three bedroom doors, bathroom doors and storage cabinets into one wall. Three earthy tones are stacked on top of each other and embedded with long, thin gray mirrors to shape a glamorous, sophisticated look.

IMPACT /SUSTAINABILITY

The designer completely renovated and remodeled the 40 year old building to make it more structurally sound, extend the service life of the building, and a give new life to the space. Lighting has always been a challenge. The original front and back light areas were blocked by the staircase, resulting in darkness. The designer amplified the natural light through the layout design and patio to create a bright living experience. The open plan significantly improves ventilation. There is no obstruction between the front door and the back door, so the air flows smoothly. The concealed air-conditioner enhances the air quality and makes the home comfortable to live in.