Mini Utopia: A Unique Residential House Design

Creating a Harmonious Space for Contemporary Chinese Families

The Mini Utopia design stands out with its emphasis on storage solutions and child-friendly spaces. A continuous wooden wall divides the areas dedicated to storage and human activity. Outside the wall, a storage cabinet provides ample space for organizing belongings, while inside the wall, the human space is carefully designed to accommodate the needs of each family member. This unique feature ensures that every room in the house is equipped with sufficient storage space, promoting a clutter-free and organized living environment.

One of the standout aspects of the Mini Utopia design is the removal of sharp edges from the wooden walls. Instead, a continuous curved vertical surface is created, providing children with a greater amount of activity space without the risk of potential injuries. This thoughtful consideration for child safety enhances the overall functionality and usability of the design.

The realization of the Mini Utopia design incorporates innovative technology and strategic spatial planning. The living room, the heart of the house, is retained and optimized to maximize the available area for both parents and children. Additional countertops are added along the windowsill and on top of cabinets, providing extra space for various activities and family bonding.

The linear arrangement of the parent's room and children's room, interconnected by a corridor, promotes easy access and interaction between family members. The corridor also serves as a dedicated children's zone, featuring a magnetic white drawing board along the side walls for creative play and learning under the supervision of parents.

The Mini Utopia design showcases the designers' attention to detail and their commitment to meeting the unique needs of contemporary Chinese families. By incorporating seating spaces at different heights, including 200mm and 250mm high seating areas along the windowsill and near the sofa, children are provided with comfortable seating options for play and relaxation.

Throughout the design process, the team faced challenges in optimizing storage spaces. However, they successfully transformed the spaces below stairs and the steps themselves into functional storage areas. Additionally, the wooden floor is designed to be lifted, allowing for in-ground storage, further maximizing the available space.

The Mini Utopia project was completed in Beijing over the course of one year, from October 2016 to October 2017. The designers conducted extensive research to understand the unique lifestyle and family structures of their clients, ensuring that the design truly serves their needs.

This exceptional design has been recognized with the Bronze A' Design Award in the Interior Space, Retail, and Exhibition Design category in 2019. The Mini Utopia design stands as a testament to the designers' creativity, technical skills, and commitment to improving the quality of life for families.

Images:

Image #1: Photographer Xiaojun Bu, Living Room, 2017.

Image #2: Photographer Xiaojun Bu, Corridor, 2017.

Image #3: Photographer Xiaojun Bu, Kids Room, 2017.

Image #4: Photographer Xiaojun Bu, Master Bedroom, 2017.

Image #5: Photographer Xiaojun Bu, Dining Room, 2017.