yinjispace

INTERIOR
WJ STUDIO
PHOTOGRAPHY
BIJISPACE边界人
Zhang Xi
EDITOR
Gina
Collection

Collecting is not merely about the objects; it is the act of gathering life, space, and personal aesthetics into a singular rhythm—allowing art to exist for the sake of living. A well-conceived space acts as a gallery for life: restrained yet porous, it creates room for time, light, and the fleeting fragments of the everyday. As inhabitants move through, feel, and curate their surroundings, they complete the "collection of home." This project is a collection of space, and more importantly, an expression of a lifestyle centered on "collecting the self."

The design intervention begins by redefining the ritual of the "threshold." Nestled beneath a canopy of trees, this residence is far from an isolated fortress. Instead, it maintains a humble, open dialogue with its surroundings. By lowering the boundary walls to create a "borrowed landscape," the design allows for a subtle osmosis between the lakeside greenery and the interior’s quietude.

A minimalist art space, defined by a floor-to-ceiling glass curtain wall, serves as a transparent showcase. The intentional use of negative space transforms this area into the owner’s "private museum," a sanctuary for a collection built over decades. The foyer is extended to flank this art space, merging seamlessly with the front hall. From this point of departure, one can choose to wander through the gallery or transition into the warmth of domestic life.

Moving deeper into the home, the spatial narrative shifts from "observation" to "experience." The museum’s formal language is distilled into subtle elements, masterfully infused with the intimacy of a home. The original sunken footprint was reimagined as a recessed lounge. Above, the skylights are tiered in a stepped arrangement, defining a sense of sanctuary within the expansive open plan. Here, the line of sight rests at eye-level with the courtyard; one is no longer a detached observer, but fully embraced by the confluence of nature and architecture.

The steel columns at the four corners of the living room are celebrated rather than concealed. Clad in teak veneer and accented with delicate copper inlays, they stand as interior sculptures—providing both structural support and visual rhythm. These columns echo the copper-toned finishes of the skylights above. This "honest expression" of structure-as-ornament gives the space an elegant, upright character.

Upon closer inspection, the traditional "door frame" has almost entirely disappeared from the ground floor. In its place, complex dry-hung wall systems and raw timber beams demarcate space through volumetric forms. From the living room to the dining area, the sunroom, and the outdoor courtyard, the spaces progress in layers—independent yet interconnected. Sightlines and circulation flow without friction.

In a gallery, the "curation" of light is a profound discipline, and this home is no exception. In the study, a specially engineered skylight filters light through a series of grilles and structural elements, rendering it soft and emotive. As the day passes, shifting light patterns drift across the walls, marking the scale of time. This play of diffused light becomes a "breathing material," imbuing the home with a serene, museum-like quality.

The staircase leading to the lower level is an exercise in "subtraction." To alleviate the weight of a subterranean space, the first flight of steps is crafted from frosted glass, allowing light to penetrate deep into the floor. The second flight expands into a seating area, creating a hub for children’s hobbies or family film nights. The ascending staircase establishes another curated niche for art at the turn, manifesting infinite variations beneath the free-flowing wash of natural light.

Ultimately, this home embodies a unique duality: it possesses the restraint and order of a museum, yet retains the warmth and ease of a private sanctuary. As the designer envisioned at the project’s inception, space is a vessel for life. When you are within it, the design language recedes. Only the cherished art, the play of light dancing across the stairs, and the quiet moments with family remain as the true protagonists of the space.

MORE PHOTOS