Project Overview

This villa project is truly one-of-a-kind as it is fashioned in the style of a "bed and breakfast" to cater to the owner's specific wishes. The primary aim is to provide a cozy and welcoming living environment for the elderly mother, enabling her to graciously accommodate friends and relatives in her home at any time. The design is heavily influenced by the minimalist principles of Mies van der Rohe, emphasizing the "Less is more" concept. The architects aspire to create a clean and uncluttered architectural space that strips away excess, allowing residents to simplify their lifestyles and alleviate both physical and mental stress.

Organisation

DUSTY

Team

LI XIAOHUI

Project Brief

Given the idyllic natural setting of the property, characterized by an abundance of trees and gardens, the proprietor espoused a desire for the residence to seamlessly integrate with its environment. In pursuit of this objective, the design scheme encompassed the utilization of light hues and asymmetrical configurations for the building's exterior. Furthermore, the spatial layout was streamlined, the vertical space was augmented, and numerous floor-to-ceiling windows were incorporated. This approach facilitated the unification of the edifice with its natural milieu, concurrently ushering green light into the dwelling and affording its occupants a serene and restorative living environment.

Project Need

The designers paid meticulous attention to both form and function. To cater to the needs of multiple residents, the designer created an open-concept living room, dining area, and kitchen, along with a dedicated tea-making space and entertainment room. Multiple bedrooms in various styles were also incorporated, offering a personalized touch to accommodate different preferences. The lighting design is particularly noteworthy, as the space is illuminated solely by natural light through floor-to-ceiling windows and strategically placed LED downlights and indirect light sources. This approach not only gives the space an ethereal quality but also fosters a warm and inviting living environment for the residents.

Design Challenge

The residential safety measures encompass a comprehensive approach addressing various hazards. This includes employing reinforced concrete in the building structure to withstand earthquakes of up to magnitude 8, floods, lightning, and other potential dangers. Additionally, the implementation of underground civil defense infrastructure, water storage tanks, and lightning lines serves to mitigate the risk of disasters. Notably, the basement floor structure not only offers protection against small arms fire but also provides defense against minor nuclear radiation when fully sealed. 

Sustainability

The design is centered around the concept of "simplicity", emphasizing the strategic arrangement of functions to distill the space to its fundamental elements. This approach caters to the residents' needs while averting the squandering of resources associated with excessive ornamentation. Furthermore, the designers have integrated sound and heat insulation profiles into the building's exterior walls and roof layers. This implementation effectively maintains a refreshing indoor temperature and diminishes the necessity for frequent air-conditioning, thereby accomplishing energy conservation and carbon reduction.