Fade out with Simplicity | C. J. House Design | World Design Awards 2024

C. J. House Design: Winner of World Design Awards 2024. As a “residence for one,” the designers wanted the space to reflect the owner’s personal style while being both artistic and subtly luxurious. The new Chinese-style social area emphasizes an open plan with elements such as flatboats and scrolls. Private areas, such as the master bedroom and study room, are kept neutral and simple to achieve balance and tranquility. The goal is to realize the owner’s desire for “self-realization” through design, ensuring that the space satisfies his lifestyle.

UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION／DIFFERENTIATION	The nature of the space is a geometric square composed of six faces. The TV wall is mainly made of wood grain with irregular lines, simple and clean. The floor is covered with wood veneer, providing a warm experience to both touch and vision. The wall behind the sofa is a piece of sapphire blue marble with golden veins, whose flowing texture resembles ripples caused by a breeze. The ceiling is trapezoidal with rounded corners and features a metal plate “boat.” Finally, on the wall leading to the private area, the designers created a customized landscape painting to present the image of a boat slowly approaching a mountain and lake. The project reproduces the boat, the lake, the mountains, and the wood of the landscape painting in the interior. With large floor-to-ceiling windows and bright daylight, the blank landscape painting-like space is filled with comfort and simplicity. The designers magnified the poetic impression to restore the essence of life. When the homeowner passes through the social area along the wall of the landscape painting from the entrance and finally enters the bedroom, it is like the silhouette of a boat in the painting rowing towards the realm of comfort.
PRODUCTION OR REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY (AND MATERIALS)	Materials: white stone, white oak, metal lines, silk fabric, wood veneer, high pressure laminate, wallpaper, etc. The overall space combines warm and cool colors to create a balanced look. The white oak flooring brings a sense of warmth. The ceiling in the social area is covered with warm dark gray wallpaper to enhance the sunshine. In the private area, more neutral and quiet colors are used. The designers simplified the space by using white paint and wood veneer, and added soft materials such as silk fabrics to provide comfort and layers.
SPECIFICATIONS / DIMENSIONS / PACKAGE / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES	The site is a new 118 sqm apartment with 3+1 bedrooms, a living room, 2 bathrooms, and a kitchen. The project is a customized remodeling. The designers adjusted the social area into a spacious living room and planned the main storage in the private area to keep the social area simple. The two rooms were merged into a master bedroom and a study room, with a white sliding door as a flexible separation. The window-side couch in the study room is planned a little larger than the regular size to serve as a resting area. The designers hope not to define the function of the space so that the occupant can choose his favorite place freely.
CHALLENGE	The biggest challenge was to balance the owner’s preference for dark tones, bright colors, and social space within the limited area while maintaining the overall taste and artistic atmosphere. The owner’s preference for dark tones and bright colors could be oppressive, so it was necessary to carefully balance materials and colors to avoid a cramped experience. At the same time, the owner also needed space for socializing. Creating an area suitable for socializing and gathering within the limited floor plan was another challenge.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION／FUNCTION	The designers utilized materials and lighting to create a style that suits the owner’s taste. For example, solid wood and metal create a calm and atmospheric tone, supplemented by meticulously designed lighting to create a warm and soft atmosphere. The social area is embellished with artworks and decorations, making the space both sociable and artistic. The dual-direction sofa enhances social gatherings by making the space more barrier-free. The TV wall with complete audio-visual equipment elevates the owner’s enjoyment of life to a higher level.
FORM	The aesthetics emphasize “self-realization.” When it comes to “restoration of space,” most people choose natural building materials to present flawlessness and naturalness. However, the true definition of space is determined by the occupants. The designers chose to interpret the space from another perspective to reflect the owner’s true personality. The first impression of the entrance is the curved cabinet with brushed metal. The cabinets are connected to the ink painting-like wall, as if a scroll is spread out in front of the eyes. In the social area, the designers used a large area of artistic stone and low-key luxury elements to contrast with the classical ink painting on the other side of the wall, creating a unique atmosphere. It symbolizes that when the complexity of the world is exhausted, one can look back and see that the highlights of the day are just a sunset. From the foyer to the living room to the master bedroom, each area of the project has been carefully crafted to achieve strong visual appeal and emotional resonance.
RESEARCH ABSTRACT	The site is a new apartment. The name “Fade out with Simplicity” reflects the designers’ ability to integrate the owner’s artistic tastes and accomplishments into the interior design. The project depicts the four stages of life: light boat, weak paddle, wave ride, and free. The design strikes a perfect balance between function and aesthetics. The innovation of the new Chinese style is refreshing. The living room ceiling and the wall behind the sofa are in the new Chinese style. The walls are covered with customized high-pressure laminate printed with an artistic effect similar to an ink painting, adding cultural ambience and visual focus. The dual-direction sofa and the TV wall provide a variety of entertainment functions for the homeowner. The study room couch and wood tones are integrated into the Japanese room elements to create a quiet reading and resting space, contrasting with the overall luxurious style.

IMPACT /SUSTAINABILITY

The designers attached great importance to sustainability. First of all, the large floor-to-ceiling windows maximize natural lighting and reduce the need for artificial lighting. The designers also rationalized the use of every area, allowing blanks to be filled with the color of life. Additionally, the space planning gives full consideration to ventilation. The project prioritizes the use of environmentally friendly and recyclable wood, such as KD veneer. Energy-saving LED lights further reduce energy consumption. These plans not only support the principles of environmental protection but also ensure the long-term durability and cost-effectiveness of the design. Furthermore, the designers provide a free formaldehyde removal service to minimize harmful substances in the air.