NEW CLASSIC APARTMENT
High-End Apartment Interior Design for a Young Couple
In 2014 we received an invitation from Area 17, an architectural firm with offices in China. We were invited to bid on a large residential development in the city of Shenzhen, 30 minutes from Hong Kong in China’s Guangdong province.
The project is composed of three apartments, six lobbies and all of the common areas in between. Each apartment was targeted for a different type of family, income, and age group.
The biggest challenge that we faced throughout the project was translating our design aesthetic into something that would be appreciated by the local buyers without compromising on the Studio language.
BATHROOM
Blue marble stone walls and floor line the bath area. The bathtub is by Hayon for Bisazza
MASTER BATHROOM
The gold and white marble design by Hayon for Bisazza creates a striking contrast between the two areas of the bathroom
MASTER BATHROOM
Bisazza tiles and wood Laufen sink cabinets
DINING ROOM
A mural by SMStudio and the large dining table
WESTERN KITCHEN
Adjacent to the living room, this space is a middle area that leads to the kitchen.
CORRIDOR TO BEDROOMS
This space introduces the bedrooms and bathroom
BATHROOM
Bisazza platinum sink and black cabinet by Hayon for Bisazza
Residential Interior Design
To gain an understanding of the desired aesthetic we visited several new residential projects in Shenzhen and nearby Hong Kong. We found that these projects were all characterized by a high level of décor; there were no white walls or plain surfaces anywhere. It seemed that there was a major difference concerning minimalism. In the US and the western world in general, minimalism is often regarded as an elegant solution for various design projects.
However, it seemed to us that if we were to adopt the same focus for the project at hand, it may have been seen as cheap or lazy. We began to understand that luxury in China is often defined by an abundance of materials and finishes, especially stone and marble. Having been trained very differently and having come from an almost opposite cultural background, the team found that adapting to this new design language was initially a real challenge.
Regardless of the design choices, however, our main priority was to ensure that the project was a commercial success. After a lot of work merging these Chinese expectations with our own design sensibility, we managed to negotiate an attractive outcome. The final design was rich and colorful with an emphasis on marble - without being grandiose.
All the apartments were sold long before completion at asking price or more, and the developer was extremely satisfied with our efforts and commitment to the project.
