Arc Village Studio: A Village-like Communion of Living and Working Space

Transforming a small apartment into a combined living and working studio

The inspiration for Arc Village Studio came from the concept of a village, symbolizing a communication of space. The designers envisioned a simple and poetic image of village houses surrounded by a little creek, with a full moon shining and lighting up the skies, creating dancing shadows of trees. To enhance the fluidity and smoothness of the space, arc and round corners were incorporated, creating a working space that connects with the living room harmoniously.

What sets Arc Village Studio apart is its unique combination of functionality and aesthetics. The round corners and arc frames create a sense of fluidity and openness, while also maximizing brightness and tidiness. The designers demolished most of the brick walls and adopted an open plan layout to admit natural light and create a sense of depth in the space.

The realization of Arc Village Studio involved the use of wood veneer and marble. In the corridor, a tree-like white wooden enclosure wraps from the corridor and extends into the top cabinetry of the living room. A "full-moon" lighting is integrated into the roof cabinet in the corridor, illuminating the space.

The interaction within Arc Village Studio is carefully designed to optimize functionality. Under the window, a curvy seat-level cabinetry extends from the working space and transforms into the TV cabinetry of the living room. Slots with lighting and a copper platform are integrated to allow for more display area.

Arc Village Studio was designed and constructed in Hong Kong, with the design stage starting in June 2017 and the construction completed in January 2018. The project was a response to the trend of combining living and working spaces in Hong Kong, where the high cost of rent has led to the need for more efficient use of space. Sim-Plex Design Studio aimed to demonstrate that work and living can coexist harmoniously without sacrificing spatial quality.

The challenges faced during the design process included creating a working space that maintains privacy while still allowing for a view of the TV. The use of round corner wooden cabinetry helped to hide storage and create a scattered wooden block effect, reminiscent of a village. The windows were opened up into the room to maximize daylight and increase the overall brightness of the space.

Arc Village Studio has received recognition for its innovative design. It was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in the Interior Space, Retail, and Exhibition Design category in 2019. This prestigious award is bestowed upon designs that exhibit strong technical and creative skills, incorporating best practices in art, science, design, and technology. Arc Village Studio is a testament to Sim-Plex Design Studio's commitment to creating designs that improve quality of life and make the world a better place.

Image Credits: Patrick Lam, 2018