In the fast-paced world of real estate development over the past two decades, housing has become a mass-produced commodity, often losing sight of the genuine needs of its users. This trend, coupled with an influx of artistic concepts and repetitive styles, has resulted in a lack of distinct identity in the available housing market.
Project Name: Box of Light
Design Firm: CUN DESIGN
Project Location: Beijing, China
Project Area: 1000 m2
Chief Designers: Cui Shu & Na Mula
Design Date: October 2021
Completion Date: April 2023
Fortunately, our project located in Heguangchenyue stands out as a unique and high-quality development amidst the market chaos. It demonstrates a genuine concern for the city and a thoughtful approach to aesthetic advancement through the exploration of light. The architectural design incorporates various strategies to introduce natural light, positioning it as the central element within the space.
Light, a timeless creative motif in architecture and space, presents a challenge that every designer aspires to tackle. In this design concept, the emphasis is on “light,” with a significant integration of light into the existing space. Cui Shu, the designer, meticulously controls the play of light, using the space as a canvas to master light and employing different light sources to shape distinct areas.
The five-story villa is logically divided into two parts – the first to third floors cater to the family’s living and dining needs. Upon entry, a double-height foyer space and expansive floor-to-ceiling glass windows provide a visually immersive experience, creating a sense of infinite extension.
In the public area, which serves as the primary guest and dining space, the interior is intentionally uncluttered. The integration of courtyard scenery with the interior creates a unique environment where natural daylight blends with everyday scenes. Cui Shu intentionally divides the initially open spaces, connecting them with human-scaled walkways. This ensures privacy while fostering diverse spatial relationships among family members.
The top-floor master bedroom, designed for maximum privacy, is strategically compartmentalized to accommodate the basic life of a small family. The circulation spaces across all three floors are deliberately manipulated, transforming corridors into garden-like passages with varying vistas, reminiscent of ancient Chinese paintings.
The two underground floors serve as a sanctuary for the homeowner’s inner self. The staircase, relocated to the heart of the area, acts as a transition and connection point. Cui Shu employs sophisticated architectural techniques to craft ‘boxes’ within the interior, creating a richly layered composition of intimate spaces. Inclined light, high-ceiling atriums, and strip windows contribute to an atmosphere akin to Langxiang Church, nurturing spiritual resonance.
The underground bar space takes a surprising turn with soft and futuristic curves, deviating from the overall design language. This configuration, resembling a spacecraft within the home, offers an ethereal experience. The teahouse, inspired by ‘In Praise of Shadows,’ features strip windows allowing faint light to delicately illuminate the space. Goldfish in a tank add dynamism, creating a dreamlike vista. The courtyard, with light filtering from above, paints dappled shadows on the walls, infusing the underground with luminance.
Cui Shu passionately seeks to understand individuals’ vivid life experiences, adopting a life-centric approach to spatial operations in sync with the contemporary era. This creation marks the beginning of the ‘box’ series, with future projects exploring the personalized concept of ‘home’ through various residential explorations.
