Concerto: A Modern Minimalist Residence by Marcus Hsu

Redesigning a Housing Project with Style and Functionality

One of the standout aspects of Concerto is the seamless integration of the clients' preferences into the overall layout. With differing tastes between the male and female clients, the design team had to find a consensus that would satisfy both parties. By incorporating extensive line work and minimalistic design elements, Concerto achieves a modern aesthetic without relying on traditional textural decorations or visual complexity.

Material selection played a crucial role in bringing Concerto to life. The design team opted for naturalistic and unique marble, which added a touch of creativity to the overall design. To meet the male owner's desire for a minimalistic yet grand public area, a striking grey stone piece with textured marble was chosen. This single frontage traverses the living room and dining area, replacing conventional mosaic piecing techniques and adding a sense of grandeur.

Concerto spans approximately 120 square meters, and the design team made strategic adjustments to optimize space utilization. By reducing the original four rooms to two, the visual depth of the public area was extended, eliminating wasted space in corridors. This reconfiguration significantly enhanced the functionality and comfort of the private bedrooms. Additionally, a storage space was created at the front section of the corridor, replacing the need for expensive and space-consuming conventional cabinets.

The design team's attention to detail is evident in the way Concerto interacts with its surroundings. By exposing the original beams and columns, the team created a visual distinction between different spaces. The lowered beam serves as a recessive medium, demarcating areas and adding balance and harmony to the overall visual perspective. Custom-made furniture, such as the tailor-made sofa and the marble study desk, further complement this design choice.

Concerto was a labor of love that spanned from January 2015 to August 2016 in Taipei City. The design team conducted extensive research to ensure that the space exuded the modernist design's pristine visual depth while incorporating craft-driven detailing and treatment of forms. Overcoming challenges such as calculating proportions accurately and optimizing floor-space usage, the team successfully created a design that caters to the flexibility of future needs.

Concerto's unique blend of modern minimalism, functionality, and sensibility sets it apart from other designs. Marcus Hsu's meticulous attention to detail, innovative material selection, and thoughtful layout adjustments have resulted in a space that is both visually stunning and highly functional. It is no wonder that Concerto was awarded the Iron A' Design Award in 2019, recognizing its well-designed, practical, and innovative nature.