Merak

Residence for Chen Hsu Interior Design

The client is an avid collector of shoes, and he likes to open the shoe cabinet when he enters his home as if he were opening a gift box. He describes shoes in pairs as a romantic symbol. To emphasize this concept, the project has installed red neon lights on the reverse side of the shoe cabinet at the entrance, which represents the starting point of happiness, as the box's logo brand Merak, which in Serbian means the feeling of being one with the universe through small happiness.

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Download Press Kit № 154396 Residence for Chen Hsu Interior Design by Chen Hsu Interior Design to access high-res images, essential texts, translations, and exclusive interviews—all in one.

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Merak by Chen Hsu Interior Design

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Residence by Chen Hsu Interior Design

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Chen Hsu Interior Design Merak

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Chen Hsu Interior Design Residence

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Unique Properties

1. Minimalist volume for visual effect: Black, white, and grey emphasize the nature of the material and the purity of the color. Architectural concrete, metal, and black wood grain all have their different textures and reflections. Minimalism is constructed through the three color tones and different materials, presenting balance and rationality. 2. The contrast between the solid and the void for emotional expression: For the social area, dark colors and bar style are applied to highlight the red and show the client's pursuit of a lively social atmosphere.

Tags

Merak, minimalism, solid and void, bar style, environmentally friendly materials, atmosphere creation, light and shadow, color.

Production Technology

In terms of material, the project is based on the principle of low saturation. However, the texture of the materials is preserved in the details, such as steel brush-sawn oak, and natural thin mineral stones with rough surfaces and indentations, which best express the client's individuality and reveal the dynamic rhythm of the space. Hand-painted stucco and architectural concrete coatings express the essence of materials. The reflective gradation of the stucco serves as a base to accentuate every moment of life.

Design Challenge

When the design team took over the project, they found that it was a new apartment that had been customized. The interior layout had been slightly modified, especially the foyer with a vertical wall separating the kitchen from the living room. This layout made it difficult for the design team to understand the client's original intention. In addition, the living room was enlarged, relatively compressing the private area. Considering the client's reluctance to make drastic changes to the partition to avoid increasing the budget, the design team achieved a smooth flow with minimal remodeling.

Project Duration

The project finished in December 2022 in Taiwan.

Operation Flow

The design team considered his lifestyle and installed the kitchen island as an ideal place for dining and socializing. An electric fireplace below the TV wall also fulfills the client's lifestyle preference for a water vapor fireplace that reduces carbon emissions and creates a captivating effect that resembles a real flame. The elegant and delicate design makes the clients feel that they seldom want to leave their homes. Moreover, the clients shifted their focus to socializing, watching movies, and working out in the spacious living room.

Research

In terms of style, the client loves dark colors and bar style, which comes from his living experience overseas. Red is emphasized in the social area, which accurately reflects the client's taste for color. In terms of material selection, the design team selected the client's favorite elements and created a depth of field with the lighting plan. Hand-painted coatings add a natural and distinctive texture and a trace of sophistication to the space, which is complemented by lighting to create a captivating luster.

Inspiration

The site is a new apartment. The client is looking for a space that could serve two people, either alone or with a significant other, to feel at home in a relaxed and cozy atmosphere. The design team envisioned the space as a box of love, filled with warmth and care. The client even chose 'Merak', the Serbian word for happiness, as the name of the project. The style satisfies the client's preference for Western feelings, and the red theme creates an elegant taste that matches the client's characteristics.

Image Credits

Chen Hsu Interior Design

Project Overview

Merak Residence has been a Iron winner in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design award category in the year 2023 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.

Iron Recognition

Chen Hsu Interior Design was recognized with the coveted Iron A' Design Award in 2024, a testament to excellence of their work Merak Residence.

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