This 300sqm apartment occupies the top floor of a five storey villa development in the Panlong area of Kunming. The client approached Studio Mù asking for a contemporary residence that would provide a place for their family to spend vacations. We used this simple brief to inform our strategy of understanding the home as a retreat; a sanctuary in which the client’s family could come together and reset away from the stress of intense city schedules.
To reflect this ideal the detailing and material palette is calm and simple. Occasional flashes of exuberance around key areas are designed as playful idiosyncrasies that add a bit of fun to the family’s daily routine. Reading and resting nooks -defined by distinct material finishes- are inserted around the otherwise open floor plan to provide opportunities for privacy.
The apartment is split over two floors. The second floor has a generous ensuite and small kitchenette that allow it to function relatively independently. This separation was designed as a way to provide a degree of privacy to the client’s daughter and her family when they are visiting. Whilst the second floor living spaces are airy and light the ensuite is designed to emphasise privacy and a transportive experience with a dark, moody palate offering somewhere to ensconce and unwind.