his unit is a concrete jungle—literally and figuratively. Concrete and metal envelop most of the areas, yet the brutalist aesthetic is softened by plants seemingly sprouting from corners and crevices. The unit appears to have a story to tell, and sure enough, the interior design is an homage to the modern city, that concrete jungle we know too well.
The client's brief to interior designer Billie dela Cruz is for his 33sqm unit to have a narrative—specifically, to have each area symbolize the layout of a city. The foyer should act as the port, the common areas the city itself, and the bedroom a forest. Practicality wasn't sacrificed in favor of pursuing this concept though, as each area is still designed to suit the client's lifestyle.
"What I wanted for [this unit] is for it to be a resting space that should force me to go out often," says the client. That means a home that's comfortable enough to rest in, yet not too much that it makes the thought of staying in too enticing. In a way, this makes the rough textures and shades of the unit beautiful to perceive yet grating enough to force you out when you stay too long. This abstract take on segments of urban areas is definitely fascinating, and despite the disparity in appearance between each space, there is a sense of cohesion as you navigate through the whole unit.
Foyer
Compared to the concrete-and-metal aesthetic of the other areas, the foyer is a stark white. The client wanted this transition space to stand as the port where you "dock" the shoes that brought you to the unit. From the walls to the Astro Boy figurines, the foyer's monochromatic color scheme gives off a mellow impression to visitors before jarring them with the raw surfaces of the public areas.
Dining Area
Just past the foyer is the dining area, composed of a simple table that serves as a functional art piece. The metal table, done by artist Ralph David, has built-in strip lights that provide mood lighting during the evening. Since the client lives alone, the casual setup is perfect and doesn't take up as much space as a formal dining table would.
Completing the dining area setup is another piece by the artist—a geometric lighting fixture that coheres with the patterns found in the unit. Copper shards scattered on the ceiling are meant to sate the client's desire for hard-edged patterns to populate the interiors.
Kitchen
The kitchen counter is connected to the sculptural dining table, making for a seamless transition between the areas. To the left of the counter is a door that doubles as a shelf, which leads to the bathroom. One of the client's primary requirements is shelf space, a request granted by the designer in the form of functional storage spaces such as the aforementioned door, and open shelving.
Living Area
The common area stands for the city proper in the design concept, explaining all the concrete surfaces that mirror the aesthetic of our business districts. The grey couch from Forty Winks blends in with the color palette for this area, while the indoor plants and wood linings on the ceiling do their best to counter it. With leafy plants like Peruvian fern, begonias, and ivy, the common areas are given an oasis-like feel. Hidden among the plants is a metal floor lamp from SM Home.
To the right of the sofa is the sliding door to the balcony, where the client is growing his share of edible plants like tanglad, ginger and kamote.
Behind the couch, there's a rocky texture that appears to protrude from the wall. "The idea behind it is for the jagged surfaces to catch different facets of light," says the client. "I also wanted something to contrast the softness of the plants." Billie made use of Sintra boards to achieve this craggy texture.
Bedroom
"Where the god sleeps," is how the client cheekily describes his bedroom. The color schemes get progressively darker the more you venture inside the unit, and the bedroom is where the sun completely sets. The walls are in midnight blue, with heavy drapes blocking out the windows.
As with the common areas, there is no direct light source to assure the room will be kept dark at night. The client wanted this space to be a "forest," with the wooden vertical slats standing for trees.
In place of a headboard is a wall displaying some of the client's favorite items, such as a bull skull from Bali and coral sculptures made of resin. The off-white color of the items add a nice contrasting touch to the darkness of the bedroom, and assure that their complex forms will be visible.
Walk-in Closet
Within the bedroom is another enclosed space that functions as the client's walk-in closet. He refers to it as a sort of clearing in a forest, where he can prepare for the day in relative quiet.
Shelves
Open shelving is present throughout the unit, housing many of the client's prized possessions such as his collection of shoes and Astro Boy memorabilia. This makes for a clean look so long as the items are styled and curated properly.
Having a small refrigerator (bought from Abenson) was intentional, as having little storage for food would force the client to go out and get something to eat.
Decor Detail
Ralph David customized a number of furniture for the unit, such as the metal stool that was converted into a side table. The stool follows the same jagged style seen in the accent wall and dining table. Behind the couch are floor lights that emit a soft glow, stemming from the client's brief of having inconspicuous light sources. The warm light color gives the living area the appearance of a forge during the evening, where metals are being melted and welded.
Article from realliving.com.ph | November 1, 2018
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