Aesthetic Conflict: A Minimalist Approach to Residential Apartment Design

Creating a Bi-Polar Aesthetics of Cold and Warm, Hard and Soft

As conflict is often used as the underlying tone of creative work for its drama without compromises under any given styling, the design team behind the Aesthetic Conflict project, led by designer Shi Zhe Sun, ran away from conventional styling from material and color to the abstract functional and aesthetics discourse. The result is a residential apartment that stands out with its unique properties and striking visual contrast.

The design team utilized high titanium-plated texture in contrast to primal and rustic concrete planks, creating a stark visual contrast. The color and line work were installed with a posh factor as a conflict to the harmony process. This unconventional approach sets the Aesthetic Conflict project apart from other residential designs.

Technologically advanced materials such as titanium-plated metal plates, glass, black metal paint, and aluminum were used to manifest a sense of modernity. These were amalgamated with genuine timber veneer, leather, timber flooring, and wall fabric to create a warm ambiance. The design team paid attention to every detail, from the entrance treated with tiles to the TV wall with timber veneer, ensuring a spatial dynamic quality.

Situated in a 108 square-meter apartment in Kaohsiung City, the Aesthetic Conflict project adopted an open plan to link the living room, study, and dining area, forming an open public domain. The design team meticulously intertwined two main themes to manifest a sense of beauty with layers and hidden order. This thoughtful approach adds depth and complexity to the design.

The transition area serves as the medium for spatial transit, seamlessly integrating the entrance with clever storage detailing. The design team connected dyed wood veneer to concrete planks, concealing the storage door and preserving an overall minimalist quality. The space behind the living room was planned as an open study, with a central study benchtop serving as a sofa backdrop that defines the space.

Completed in 2019 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, the Aesthetic Conflict project showcases the designer's dedication to multi-level thinking and Conflict Aesthetics. By anchoring on this concept, the design team created a genuine aesthetics of synergized visual and tactile experiences. The public domain was treated with a low-chroma scheme and refined material texture, while the private domain was adorned with veneer, fabric, and metal, resulting in a contemporary look-and-feel.

The Aesthetic Conflict project presented its fair share of challenges. In the pursuit of visual consistency and innovative exteriors, the design team adopted titanium-plated plates as the main material for the TV wall. This decision added to the assembly difficulty, but the team's precise and exquisite fitting resulted in a consolidated visual focus that elevates the overall design.

The Aesthetic Conflict project was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in 2020 in the Interior Space, Retail, and Exhibition Design category. This prestigious accolade recognizes outstanding and creatively ingenious designs that authenticate experience and resourcefulness. Esteemed for incorporating best practices in art, science, design, and technology, the Aesthetic Conflict project contributes to quality of life improvements, making the world a better place.