The Hive: A Spacious and Eclectic Residential House

Creating a Unique Living Space Inspired by Honeycombs

The Hive, designed by Alex Chang, is a residential house that draws inspiration from the aesthetic look of a honeycomb. This innovative design combines functionality and style to create a spacious and eclectic living environment.

The design of The Hive revolves around the concept of creating space. The entrance of the house is adorned with hexagonal vintage-style floor tiles, reminiscent of a honeycomb pattern. These tiles lead the way into the spacious living room and open concept kitchen, which features wood lookalike floor tiles. The placement of the sofa and the shape of the platform are derived from the geometry of a hexagon, creating personal retreat spaces throughout the house.

One of the unique features of The Hive is the activity room, which is enclosed with tempered glass. This design choice ensures that the living room does not feel too confined, while still providing a separate space for various activities. The kitchen walls have been hacked to create an open concept idea, complete with a movable island countertop that can be wheeled around for additional space. The walls of the house are clad with chipboard material, effectively concealing the door and serving as a giant pin-up board for displaying pictures.

The realization of The Hive involved the use of various technologies and materials. The irregularly laid hexagonal floor tiles merge with wood lookalike floor tiles in the living room, creating a visually striking pattern. The bedroom floor is laid in a herringbone pattern with two different color tones, adding depth and character to the space. White craft brick walls contribute to the overall spacious and airy feel of the house. The activity room features aluminum frame glass panels, allowing natural light to flow through the space. The chipboard material used to clad the walls not only conceals the door but also adds a unique finish to the house, creating a calming atmosphere. The wardrobe in The Hive is designed with bidding details to resemble stacked crates, adding a touch of creativity to the space.

The Hive is a 1300 sqft 5-room HDB located in Singapore's Yishun neighborhood. The design project took approximately two months to complete. The underlying research for this design focused on creating a spacious environment with eclectic elements. By incorporating geometry and a mixture of materials, The Hive breaks away from traditional furniture placement and offers a fresh approach to interior design.

Overcoming creative and technical challenges was an integral part of bringing The Hive to life. The selection of the right materials and colors was crucial in achieving the lively and eclectic concept. Walls had to be hacked to create an open concept kitchen, and solid partitions were replaced with aluminum glass frames to create distinct spaces within the house.

The Hive has been recognized for its outstanding design and creativity. It was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in the Interior Space, Retail, and Exhibition Design category in 2016. This prestigious award is bestowed upon designs that exhibit strong technical and creative skills, contributing to quality of life improvements and making the world a better place.

The Hive, with its unique honeycomb-inspired design and innovative use of materials, offers a one-of-a-kind living experience. It showcases the perfect balance between functionality and aesthetics, creating a space that is both visually appealing and highly functional.


Project Details and Credits

Project Designers: Andy Tan
Image Credits: Alex Chang
Project Team Members: Alex Chang
Project Name: The Hive
Project Client: Andy Tan


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