The Project | Project Overview
The client is a warm, close-knit family of four. Their children, now professionally established, commissioned this new home for their retired parents as an expression of deep filial respect. Uniquely, the husband possesses a refined aesthetic sensibility, which made the design process an engaging and profound dialogue. Within the limited 100-square-meter space, accommodating three bedrooms and all essential living functions while meeting the parents’ expectations for texture and style became the central challenge of this project.
Prologue | Resonance of Space
“PAN” refers to an ancient stone musical instrument, whose clear, resonant tone is carried by its wooden frame. This project draws inspiration from it, aiming to create a living space as precise as an instrument and as harmonious as music. The home is not only a stable residence offered by children to their retired parents but also a poetic exploration of materiality, light, and spatial structure.
Architectural Strategy | Deconstruction and Connection
Meeting the needs of three generations within 100 square meters is the foremost design challenge. We discarded conventional partitions and applied architectural deconstructivist techniques to precisely segment and reorganize the overall space. Materials act as a silent language defining function, while sightlines flow freely through the coherent layout, creating a spatial experience far exceeding the physical area.
Material Journey | A Sensory Narrative
We firmly believe that materials speak for themselves. In this home, they jointly compose a nuanced sensory diary.
Entryway | A Metallic Prelude
The brass flooring radiates a warm luster, defining the first step into the home. Paired with storage walls on either side, it composes the ceremonial prelude of the space.
Kitchen & Dining | The Patina of Time
The dining floor features “glazed bricks” that will develop richer tones over time, recording the traces of daily life. The wood-grain ceiling above envelopes the space with warmth and intimacy. Functionally, the island, storage, and appliances are seamlessly integrated, reflecting the efficiency and aesthetics of modern living.
Living Room | Functional Sculpture
Breaking from tradition, a custom structural sofa replaces standard furniture, maximizing storage and spatial utilization. The modular metal coffee table at the center integrates an ecological planter, merging function with vitality. A silver metallic TV wall adds a calm, architectural accent to the space.
The Core | Cross of Light
A simple cast-in-place concrete wall serves as the design’s soul. A cross-shaped light field embedded within extends across the home, acting as a visual and spiritual link. Here, light is not mere illumination but a sacred presence, imparting serenity and sanctity to the raw concrete.
Bedrooms | Private Poetry
The master bedroom features a “black starry sky” wall with scattered lighting, creating a deep and tranquil sleeping atmosphere. A semi-open bathroom maintains privacy while ensuring spatial openness. The secondary bedrooms use geometric compositions of fabrics and wood, crafting calm, warm sleeping spaces under carefully sculpted light and shadow.
Design Highlight | The Fusion of Spirit and Craftsmanship
The space’s pinnacle lies in the dramatic dialogue between the “cross of light” and the cast-in-place concrete. This is not merely a stylistic choice but an exploration of the spiritual quality of materials. Light softens concrete’s austerity, while concrete gives light form and weight. Together, they create a spiritually charged environment—the emotional focal point of the home.
Epilogue | Life in Resonance
Ultimately, the home resembles a finely tuned instrument. Concrete provides the bass, metal the high notes, wood the mid-melody, and glazed brick plays evolving variations over time. Each element performs its role while interweaving harmoniously, culminating in a timeless, moving composition named “Life.”
