By synthesising adaptive layout strategies with innovative material applications, Sim-Plex Design Studio delineates a model of nano living that is simultaneously responsive to individual needs and contextual exigencies.
28 December 2024
Home Type: Nano flat
Floor Area: 242sqft
Text by Vanitha Pavapathi
Contrary to popular belief, not all tiny homes benefit from an aggressive open-plan approach to maximise the usability of space. Some form of segregation is necessary for privacy and to establish order, distinct zones and a larger impression of space.
However, conventional room partitions often exacerbate spatial limitations, inducing visual and physical claustrophobia, in addition to poor air ventilation. So how can such complexities inherent in high-density micro-living be best addressed?
Nano Breeze, a 242-square-foot nano flat in Hong Kong’s Garden Riviera by Sim-Plex Design Studio resolves these tensions through the deployment of a flexible semi-open layout, wherein “transparent vertical plant shelves and a storage-integrated wooden platform blur the boundaries between activity area and rest area,” shares Patrick Lam, Founder and Creative Director of Sim-Plex Design Studio.
He adds that the project faced many layout problems. “The kitchen and bathroom doors directly faced the living room, with a long row of windows facing the river scenery on the other side, resulting in insufficient functional wall space. The overall window proportions were adequate, but improper design could disrupt the balance of privacy. Lastly, the kitchen space was long and narrow, and so becoming too dim when the door was closed.”
Patrick’s first order of business was to enhance circulation dynamics. Reconfiguring the bathroom door to establish an internal connection with the kitchen optimises circulation while liberating wall space within the living area. This strategic modification facilitates the accommodation of storage units and multimedia installations, mitigating disruptions to the primary activity zone.
The intervention also reimagined the kitchen as a luminous and functional hub, featuring a frosted glass pocket door that reconciles the need for spatial demarcation with the imperative for natural light penetration.
Within the subtropical climatic context of Hong Kong, the design prioritises ventilation and biophilic integration. Traditional partition walls are supplanted by gradient vertical plant shelves, which are engineered to achieve a nuanced interplay of opacity and transparency.
The design stratifies functionality: lower segments incorporate drawers and concealed storage, the midsection employs frosted wave-patterned glass to achieve semi-translucence, and the uppermost segments remain open to facilitate airflow and accommodate greenery.
Combined with a ceiling fan to augment airflow, these measures collectively mitigate the oppressive humidity characteristic of the local climate, fostering a living environment that is both thermally comfortable and visually expansive.
Original to the flat, “the spacious windowsill in the living room is covered with warm wooden material for reading or sunbathing, with a storage cabinet at the end for a refrigerator and a grey magnetic board that offers a pragmatic solution for organisational needs,” Patrick explains.
Such convenience and ingenuity are also evident through the deployment of a height-adjustable table, parked by the entrance when not in use. It exemplifies the integration of adaptive furniture systems capable of transitioning effortlessly between roles as a coffee table and dining surface, thereby amplifying spatial versatility.
The dual utility of design elements is further demonstrated by a full-height wardrobe and a compact workstation – anchored by overhead bookshelves – within the rest area. The elevated wooden platform extends its functionality as both seating and an ancillary spatial element, ensuring a seamless interplay of utility and aesthetics.
Through a series of meticulously considered interventions, Nano Breeze constitutes a groundbreaking prototype in the domain of micro-residential design. This project transcends the limitations of its physical dimensions, offering a profound exploration of how spatial constraints can be leveraged to enhance the quality of urban living.
Sim-Plex Design Studio
www.sim-plex-design.com
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