KiKi ARCHi is a creative artist who has a new idea for a house that is both indoor and outdoor. She focuses on the three keywords of light, air, and flow, and believes that they can be integrated together to create a beautiful, peaceful home.
From the architect: The house in Shenzhen used to have a different look. It was decorated in a style popular in an earlier era in China, but this style is no longer appropriate for today's life. The owner of the house, a rational and logical lawyer, decided to have KiKi ARCHi do a renovation. This will create a more relaxed and free-living environment for his family.
The original home needs to be lightened up so that it can accommodate the everyday lives of 3 generations, but it's not the best option. The building has a basement, three floors above ground, and an attic. This creates a lot of interior darkness, except for the top attic with skylights. Additionally, due to climate and mosquitoes problems, several small balconies attached to the building were once wasted. This is a pity because the owner's family loved spending time outdoors.
KiKi ARCHi suggested the idea of a breathing house, and focused on three keywords: light, air, and flow. First, the designer added two sets of skylights on the roof above the staircase hall, which allow natural light to flow through the structural gaps in the split-level and brighten the staircase hall.
At the same time as the exterior of the house changed, the balcony became a semi-outdoor space with white mesh windows that are treated with anti-corrosion and anti-rust. Some mesh windows are replaced with glass to create a viewing effect that varies depending on the angle of view. This new façade is modern and airy, allowing for privacy but also allowing fresh air to flow in.
The designer adjusted the layout of the house to make it more efficient, especially the living space on the ground floor, which is connected to the courtyard. This way, the original entry door was moved to the wall position and part of the courtyard was divided into the semi-indoor area, which became the tea hall. Most of the non-load-bearing walls were removed and replaced with an open kitchen area. Although the area of the courtyard is reduced, the outdoor space is virtually doubled, thanks to the fully open folding doors, sliding doors, and screens. Now, the family can stay in the tea hall and dining room and face the courtyard directly, which they can feel the gentle breeze.
The living room in the inner most part is quieter than other parts of the house. The steps provide a natural boundary and the flexible double lines allow the living room to connect with all other functional areas. This is convenient for family members to move around at the same time. To make the living room brighter, the designer added a long glass wall on the porch. This makes the height of the two areas equal and creates a more complete sense of space. The interior materials and decorations were chosen to create a sense of breathing, such as by using the micro cement floor, customized rattan cabinet, diatom mud wall, curved wood grid ceiling, etc. This brings a comfortable living experience to the room.
The new house has made some changes to the family's life. For example, the basement and attic have been turned into a video room, lounge, and reading room. This has allowed the family to have more places to relax, even if they don't want to go outside.
absolutly wonderful
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