New Home, Familiar Ground: Embracing Curved Lines and Connecting Spatial Aesthetics
Nestled within a familiar residential enclave, Oom house—a newly constructed home we designed at Anonym—emerged from our desire to create additional spaces that more effectively address functional needs. This ambition led us to design that challenges the conventional aesthetics of homes in typical housing estate developments.
Adjacent to the thoughtfully preserved original home, the new structure captivates with its elegantly curved lines. These curves introduce a softness to the living environment, embodying our interest in a "space sharing" approach. By interpreting curves as elements that allow two areas to coexist without stark separation, the design facilitates seamless interaction between the two residences. This approach also softens the boundaries between the building and the property's edges, resulting in a fluid design that weaves curves from the overall floor plan down to the finest interior details.
The ground floor unfolds with a living room, dining area, kitchen, and an outdoor space that extends toward the original house. The private quarters, including bedrooms, occupy the second and third floors. We strategically employed curved lines at junctions where the new house connects with other spaces—such as the front façade and corners adjacent to property lines. These curves mitigate rigidity, enhancing the building's fluidity and creating a more inviting silhouette.
A particularly striking feature is the concave clear glass wall at the corner where the new house adjoins the old. This architectural gesture allows the external space of the original home to flow seamlessly into the interior of the new one, creating an outdoor terrace shared by both residences. It's a tangible realization of the "space sharing" concept envisioned from the project's inception. This design not only invites abundant natural light into the ground-floor interior but also ensures comfort through overhanging eaves that provide necessary shade, preventing excessive heat behind the expansive glass.
To enhance the residents' engagement with the home, we intentionally positioned the staircases from the first to the second floor and from the second to the third in different locations. This deliberate placement encourages movement throughout various areas, allowing inhabitants to fully immerse themselves in the spatial experience and appreciate the home's nuanced design.
Recognizing the homeowner's deep appreciation for wood, we incorporated timber elements extensively throughout the residence, especially at touchpoints and visible areas, collectively adding warmth to the house. Dark-toned wood adorns window frames, stair railings, and exterior decking—architectural accents that strikingly contrast with the concrete walls and pristine white exteriors, much like bold outlines in a piece of art. Inside, lighter wood tones grace the floors, furniture, and doors, cultivating an atmosphere of softness and subtle elegance.
The exterior walls, visible to passersby, are finished in a gray hue reminiscent of raw concrete, featuring a slightly rough texture that adds depth and a touch of ruggedness. This plastered surface, with patterns that evoke a sense of nature, complements the building's geometric form, allowing the structure's aesthetic to be appreciated from the first visual encounter. Upon entering, the interior transitions to smooth white walls, offering a serene and airy ambiance that contrasts with the exterior's tactile façade. This interior palette harmonizes effortlessly with the furnishings, which embrace light wood tones, grays, and beiges, enhancing the relaxing, open, and visually soothing space.
In its entirety, we designed Oom house to have seamless fluidity, beginning with the curves encircling the building that serve as fundamental elements of the floor plan and shape the house's spatial dynamics. Each curve influences both external and internal environments, fostering a reciprocal relationship between spaces. When an exterior wall curves inward, the interior wall mirrors this form, creating continuous lines that dissolve traditional boundaries. Such a design encourages shared spaces with the neighboring house, epitomizing our commitment to the "space sharing" approach.
