The movie Honey, I Shrunk the Kids inspired Studio In2 to experiment with the use of large frames to disrupt the original visual proportions and expand the sense of space in a small mezzanine apartment in one of Taipei’s most desirable and lively business districts. Studio In2 transformed the 66 square meter apartment into a modern and elegant metropolitan home for a young entrepreneurial couple. In the face of limited ceiling height and small floor space, big sliding door panels, big wooden frames, big openings, and big colored blocks were used to disrupt the visual proportions and challenge the original sense of space.

All closed partitions in the original property were opened up. The custom shoe cabinet that shares a wall with the television defines the spatial relationship between the entry hallway, the living room, and the dining room. Sliding door panels installed in the seldom used guestroom let natural sunlight into the kitchen and dining room and create a dynamic and open living arrangement. The structural steel beam functions as a stylish lighted column for the dining area, while also integrating the center countertop and dining table. White finishes are used in areas with lower ceiling heights to expand the sense of space. Different materials, partitions, and contours alter the appearance and presentation of the white palette by creating a hierarchy of objects within the space. The shoe cabinet and the dining table are elevated to attribute a sense of visual lightness to the larger furniture items.

The originally enclosed mezzanine room on the second floor was removed, and the wall was re-positioned to create a 50cm-width suspended walkway. Big door panels create an interactive connection between the vertical and horizontal moving routes and sight lines, despite the low ceiling height. The height of the space does not evoke a sensation of pressure but rather creates a comfortable and open spatial experience.