Narrative of Stacking

The client had lived in this residence for 20 years and wanted to solve how to store and display an ample painting collection. The solution is the design concept of “stacking” where all spatial elements, even the paintings, were regarded as single volume objects collided, stacked and extended both vertically and horizontally in articulation and definition of material continuity and functionality of different domains, as well as intensifying visual depth and the flow of the circulation. With the overall interior area of 165 square meters, the design objectives were to re-configure the floor plan to suit their living style, while creating enriched perceptual experiences through materials, colors and formal styling unique to the living programs of the client. In the public domain layout, the design removed a visually-obscuring tatami room so as to enlarge the living room area, as well as allowing ample natural lighting and lake view into the interior, in the context of a gallery-like space. The open floor plan also allowed each domain of the public area to overlap with one another, as a multi-functional zone shared by the family members. The unique feature of this project is an innovative system of stacked movable walls that reveal or hide the hung paintings; it opens up a refreshing angle of creative appreciation. In terms of color and materials, given the beautiful natural view of the site, the overall color-scheme was of black, white, grey and earth colors, complemented with genuine materials in sculpting a simple, low-profile and warm scenery with natural ambiance, and at the same time, highlighting the richness of the collected paintings. The client is almost 70 years of age with his fixed living routine; however, he expected for a brand new look for this housing renovation. How to reconcile design concept, practicality and the long-term habits of the client had become a major challenge for this project. In the end, through different design methods such as re-configure the floor plan and having old items fusing into new design environment, it allows the client to make attempts to have new spatial experiences and better living functionalities, on the premise of preserving his existing behavior routines. In general, the design usually originating from the designer’s initial idea or planning, through different design phases, results in the final product. This project reversed this top-down process of design thinking. The studio started from resolving the client’s most concerning issue. By regarding the collected paintings as a tool to construct the over-all design strategy, the studio transformed it into a spatial language, as well as adapted to the family members’ individual living patterns and routes, while the overall spatial visuals formed around the concept of “Stacking”, perfectly conveying everything treasured by the clients, in creating space and visual experiences that are unique to them only.