In-between Lines: A Masterstroke in Compact Living

Shih Cheng Lo and Min Han Yang's Award-Winning Residence Design

The design team's inspiration was drawn from their client's love for travel and the ambiance of culturally enriched hotels. They adopted a natural earth color tone to create a comfortable space within an interior of 39 square meters. The design is a perfect blend of aesthetics and practicality, with ample storage cleverly integrated into the design.

In-between Lines stands out for its unique use of Intersecting Spaces. These overlapping spaces serve connective and multi-purpose functions with framed volumes demarcating interior domains such as the TV wall, mirrored cabinet, waterproof basin, and bookshelf wall for storing the client's collection. The design team meticulously calculated the interior dimension and proportion, keeping the split-level floor-slab thickness to within 10cm to create a non-oppressive living environment.

The design was realized using a variety of materials including Lotos Plaster, Mortex Imported Waterproofing Paint, Timber-Patterned Tile, Timber Flooring, Marble, Chocolate Brick, Steel-Brushed Timber Veneer, System Board, Masonry Benchtop, Metal Rack, and Glass. The result is a petite space created out of volumes of special styling, supported by the wall surface. To maintain the pristine visual perception of an open and transparent interior, a lowered ceiling was installed to conceal the wiring and service equipment.

Despite the interior area being very limited, the design team managed to integrate many functional requirements and optimize natural lighting. This was achieved by utilizing intersecting volumes to meet the living requirements, installing a full-height window at the kitchen, and having glass on part of the bedroom walls and door to allow natural light into the interior.

The design project, which was started on February 25th, 2019, and completed on August 25th, 2019, in New Taipei City, Taiwan, was awarded Iron in A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2020. The award is given to well-designed, practical, and innovative creations that meet professional and industrial requirements, integrate industry best practices, and provide fulfillment and positive feelings, contributing to a better world.

In conclusion, In-between Lines is a testament to the beauty of minimalist design and functional storage. It is a unique exploration of compact living that offers a refreshing spatial tone and ample natural lighting. The design is a perfect blend of aesthetics and practicality, with ample storage cleverly integrated into the design. It is a design that truly reflects the lifestyle and passions of its owners.