Design Buy Build Issue 26 2017 | Page 14

At the inception of this particular project, we visited the homes of both the resident owner as well as their parents. They were both different in style, but similar in the way they live their day to day lives. Due to the style differences, the owners’ house was very simple while the parents’ home was very ostentatious, but both were well organized and clean. It was so clean in fact that it was hard to believe that people actually lived there. “The living space is so immaculate, is this a model home?” we asked the homeowner, but she said it was influenced by her mother. Growing up, she was used to seeing how well kept her mother was that if things are not organized, I don’t feel comfortable. Come to think of it, the parent’s place had only what they essentially needed. The 3 main points we focused on this project are: how to maintain the lifestyle of preferences of these two homes, how to mold these two homes naturally, and how to maintain privacy in both homes. The main area of concern was how the interior design will not only keep the styles and preferences intact, but maintain a state of distance and communion. To do this, we kept the lawns in the middle with both the common spaces facing each other. Meanwhile the bedrooms and bathrooms were kept on the further sides of each other. Also, the height distribution between the owners’ rooms and parents’ rooms are about 1 story apart. Last, the front gate and entrances are connected by a bridge for fairly easy access. House no.1 _ minimal & edge ‘I’D LIKE OUR HOUSE TO BE LIKE AN ART GALLERY’ The residential owners live in all white living space. The living space is also minimalist, so there mustn’t be any clutter. With high ceilings (3.5m), long windows seen across a narrow kitchen, wall lighting in bedrooms, the space felt voluminous and open. The sight of their parents’ structure seen across the lawn out looking the front window, it was as if their parents’ house was another work of art seen from their house. A trapdoor for some privacy was places as well. Adjacent the inner part of the living room was a small room for a bed and closet, and an office for the mother in which gives entry to the bathroom and bedroom. Downstairs is another office in which the husband can use to study and be a big part of his everyday lifestyle. 14 14