Embrace Connect Purify Apartment

The generous internal space of around 2,500sqft (232sqm) across two floors would provide four bedrooms on the upper floor: a family en-suite, a master bedroom, a children’s room, and a guest en-suite. The lower level features a large dining and living room which can open up fully to a large outdoor terrace, a fully equipped kitchen and open pantry bar with smart home automation systems.

Our concept was to ‘embrace, connect and purify’, an architectural approach that created cosy volumes on the upper floor that would embrace with one another, connecting a dramatic staircase to the lower floor social space with an external terrace. The resulting composition is a ritualistic sequence that would ‘purify’ the minds of the users, to create a calming and tranquil experience at home.

The design involved a large amount of bespoke joinery, from significant functional elements such as built-in furniture to small delicate details such as handles and display shelves. The architectural language explored the use of timber slats to create a sense of movement, verticality and continuity on the central circulation walls and staircase void of the apartment. The finesse of these details using high-quality materials required a rigorous process of drawing and prototyping with the joinery workshop to ensure the best results.

The design involved the definition of a set of ‘main characters’. Firstly, the voluptuous rooms on the upper floor are wrapped with an outer skin of full height timber slats, which creates a sense of warmth and cosiness. Secondly the timber slats would form the circulatory spaces, incorporated with concealed storage, open niche displays, and in-wall fabric seating functions. These timber slats would continue into the staircase void, resulting in a dramatic vertical experience that connects both floors. Subtle lighting incorporated at a high level of these timber slats creates a sublime and transcending effect.

Thirdly, a unique green marble finish used along a long wall forms the main characteristic of the lower floor social space. The green marble has a unique grain and pattern, which would create a dialogue with the external greenery. The centre-piece of the dining area is a bespoke ‘Bean Table’ design, also made in the same green marble with a ‘book matching’ pattern with the main wall, as the focal artistic statement. The table is fittingly paired with a set of solid timber chairs, the curvy Stabellö chair by Japanese designer Tomato Azumi.

The material finishes are kept subtle and minimal, using the occasional textured fabric, stones or metal details to create accentuations. The primary material of high-quality timber is complemented by other secondary wall finishes such as a rustic warm grey textured paint, and flat white colours to achieve contrasts and balance.

The choices of artwork and decorations were to be state-of-the-art, which involved an exhaustive period of specification and coordination with a large number of renowned manufacturers and suppliers. These included floral arrangements by a modern Japanese Ikebana artist, lounge rug from Tai Ping, and various furniture from Tacchini and Mogg. Environmental friendly products were chosen wherever feasible.

Design: Bean Buro
Design Team: Lorène Faure, Kenny Kinugasa-Tsui, Philippine Vidart, Jay Jordan, Camille Villaca
Contractor: Alpine Interiors Limited
Photography: courtesy of Bean Buro