극적 인테리어가 만나는 중국 아파트-[ MINAS KOSMIDIS ] East meets West

"East meets West"이라는 용어는 양극의 컴파스에 위치한 디자인과 문화가 만나 약삭빠른 태세로 융합되는 것을 표현하는 말이다. 중국 동구안에 새로 지어진 고층 아파트의 22층에 이러한 실례를 보여주는 주택이 있어 소개한다.

총 250 평방미터의 아파트는 들어서자마자 따뜻한 흙빛의 데코 테마 컬러를 마주하게 된다. 이에 더불어 대리석 바닥, 월넛톤의 패널, 미니멀하지만 편안한 느낌의 가구마감등이 이곳을 방문하는 손님과 거주하는 사람들을 맞이하지만,  '낮의 활동'과 '밤을 위한 공간'이라는 두 개의 서로 다른 공간 구성이 섬세하게 구분되어 있다.

아파트는 미학적인 디자인으로 따스함과 인상적인 분위기를 동시에 주고 있으며 거주하는 사람의 전통에도 리스펙트를 보여주고 있다. 이제 "East meets West"는 단순힌 용어에서 그치는 게 아니라 살아있는 증거가 된다.

"East meets West" is a term often used to describe instances where design and culture from the opposite corners of the compass meet and mingle with astute poise. And in the case of this apartment on the 22nd floor of a new, high-rise residential building in Dongguan in southeast China, this exact term couldn't have found a more apt implementation.

Realized through the stellar collaborative efforts between Minas Kosmidis [Architecture in Concept], an architecture studio based in Thessaloniki, Greece (the "West" part of the term) and YuQiang and Partners Interior Design, a design studio based in Shenzhen, China (the "East" part of the term), this private home is the ideal link between Western design directives and Eastern lifestyle requirements. 

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The 250 square meter apartment -- which was completed in February 2016, in a building that's part of a large real estate residential project located in the greater metropolitan area of Shenzhen -- is cleverly compartmentalized so as to fully utilize not only its ample floor space but also its symbiotic relationship to the four-member, middle-class Chinese family it houses.

Upon entering, the warm, earthy tones of the décor's color theme, marble flooring, walnut wood paneling and minimal, yet comfortable furnishings, greet visitors and residents with an enveloping hush while two distinct "zones" encompass the floorplan and separate the dedicated space between those rooms intended for "Day Activities" and those intended for the "Night Zone." 

The "Day Activities" section features a very spacious living room that encompasses a large, sundrenched lounge area with a huge, L-shaped sofa taking center stage. This faces a walnut paneled wall beside the wide veranda which overlooks a panoramic view of the city stretching out below. Meanwhile, the tea table, which is bordered by the backside of the sofa, features a large table which is perfect for entertaining. Across the room, the dining area is delineated from the lounge with a metal framed, clear glass "wall" partition, a feature exemplifies the designers and architects design directives by marrying a simplistic Bauhaus form with the idea of a traditional Chinese screen. A dedicated space for having tea was a top priority; the partaking of tea is not only a fundamental aspect of Chinese heritage but also an integral part of a modern Chinese family's daily life. 

The open floor plan of this section of the apartment is enhanced by the decor choices. Art of every shape and size is hung on the walls, its colors punctuating the soft tones of the furnishings and the bronze finishes of supporting columns -- architectural elements which are transformed into décor features thanks to the clever utilization of the metal's sheen.

The utilization of polished bronze flows through to the minimally designed kitchen, wherein the center island's column and overhead cooking ventilation have been sheathed in the metal, imbues these functional items with the same touch of subdued glamour that is so prevalent in the rest of the apartment. The bordering beam of recessed lighting on the ceiling furthers this aesthetic. 

Meanwhile, in the apartment's "Night Zone," although the same clean-lined and comforting aesthetic choices abound, their utilization is definitively intended for private use. The master bedroom employs yet another metal-framed, glass wall which separates the sleeping section from the marble and walnut wood infused master bath on the one side and the walk-in closet as well as the private office space to the other side. Once again, walnut wood veneers sheath parts of the walls creating a soothing backdrop for the various artworks that are showcased. Another element that characterizes the private quarters are the built in furnishings, such as built-in window seats, the oblong metal desk/vanity shelf which runs across one of the two children's bedrooms, as well as the built-in metal framed bookcases hanging from the ceiling.

This apartment embraces a design aesthetic which is both welcoming and impressive; determined and yet soothing; entirely modern and yet made all the more so by the respect and homage paid to the heritage of its residents. "East meets West" may be just a term, but in this setting it becomes a living testament.   

from yatzer