House Tour: The raw utilitarian appeal of this artist's apartment hides clever design strategies
It may not seem like it but the design of this artist's minimalist home, which also houses his studios and exhibition spaces, is the culmination of deliberate design and architectural strategies by Atelier About Architecture.
By Michelle Lee -
For the owner, a highly regarded artist, of this apartment perched at the top of a five-storey building in Beijing, this minimalist space is his residence, studio and exhibition space rolled into one.
The seemingly spartan abode, which spans 3229 sq ft, is the result of thoughtful design strategies by Atelier About Architecture, creating a residence that caters to not just the owner's living habits but his professional requirements. His directive to the design team was for a creative abode that is minimalist and free of specific styles.
The main entrance leads to the exhibition and reception areas, where sliding doors allow for spatial transformations.
The first level is defined by a dark and neutral palette with wood and stone elements, including nano-concrete underfoot and on the walls of the reception and dining area. Together with the use of charcoal hued stone-effect paint, it creates texture, and a brooding aesthetic that contrasts with the brightly lit courtyard.
The dark and bold interior sensibilities carry through to the bathroom. Here, artfully placed cove lights lend to its drama and visual impact.
The courtyard, which allows for light to stream into the interiors, doubles as an open-air exhibition space.
A stairway takes one up to the second storey, where the main painting room and studios are located. Here, the colour scheme lightens up upon turning from the corridor on level one towards the stairway.
Atelier About Architecture's team designed three studios for the artist, each bearing a different atmosphere; the positioning of the windows, the effects of the natural light streaming in and the size of the rooms were all meticulously considered.
Light nano-concrete floors and white walls set the backdrop for the airy minimalist vibe of the interiors, anchored with wooden furnishings.
The artist requested for an absolute sense of privacy in his studios; details including the position of the his work space for painting, the angle of the light and his artistic vision were also factors that the design team carefully contemplated.
Daylight filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows and soft curtains bring a feeling of serenity and calm to the artist's work spaces.
On the third floor, the terrace overlooks the large studio and courtyard, as well as the cityscape.
"The biggest challenge of this project was the renovate and make room for all the functional requirements while staying within the limits of the original structure's carrying capacity," share the team at Atelier About Architecture. "After reorganising the spatial configurations, we redefined the building and courtyard, and rearranged the horizontal and vertical layouts. The added load also had to be controlled and calculated so the building structure could accommodate it."
The apartment took about three years to complete, from its design stage to the completion of the renovation.