Unveiling the Glimmer of Grey: A Masterpiece by Hung-Yu Chen

Exploring the Aesthetics of Grey in Residential Design

Grey, often associated with neutrality and balance, takes center stage in this design. The Glimmer of Grey residence is a testament to the designer's ability to transform a space into a personal narrative of the client. The design is inundated with grey tones, precise line work, and detailing of wooden materiality. The original concrete formwork ceiling and marble floor, complemented with titanium-plated copper wall and modern furniture, create an overall softness and purity. This is further enhanced by warm timber flooring, resulting in a balanced and poised narrative.

What sets this design apart is its optimal open space, rendering the cement-poured residence a sentimental container. The designer's thorough insight into the client's imagination towards life and honest attitude towards living needs and domain spirit have been imbued in the design, creating a serene sensory experience. The design's unique properties are seen in every detail, from the layout changes to the choice of materials.

The Glimmer of Grey project was inspired by the surface of finished concrete that traverses through the interior. The decision to maintain the original materiality of the concrete reflects its intention in containing the memories and sentiments of the interior and its living program and traces. When complemented by titanium-plated metal, warm timber materials, and minimalistic white volume, the materiality starts to speak volume about the purity of the space.

In terms of layout changes, the residence was changed to a three-room format. One of the bedrooms was converted to a lifestyle room, enabling the public domain to become a flowing L-shape circulation path. This flexible functional space facilitates the dining, reading, and piano-playing programs in the space with visual access but without disturbance, clearly articulating a narrative of materiality through a singular material but different functions.

The design was completed in July 2017 and is located in Taipei City, Taiwan. The design team, which includes KAO YI-CHIA and CHEN HUNG-YU, faced several challenges in the process. They had to reflect the urban architecture the interior situates in, think over the sceneries people should see once they return home, and activate such spatial metaphor. The design serves to solve functional and circulation issues, while also being a search into the psyche of the residents, which thoroughly guides the design decision-making process, working towards establishing a great interactive relationship with the natural environment.

The Glimmer of Grey project is a winner of the prestigious A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2019. This award is rewarded to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. These designs, admired for their strong technical characteristics and splendid artistic skill, showcase a remarkable level of excellence and introduce positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.