The Taicang apartment by office ZHU, is a renovation project of an existing double storey residence in Taicang, Jiangsu. The existing housing typology in the area offers luxuriously double height, light-filled internal living space – a perfect base for a spacious and fluid atmosphere. In order to fully express the apartments existing spatial character, Office Zhu took a paired back, minimalist approach.

Joinery was correspondingly restricted to the perimeter, while walls and sliding doors were reduced to a bare minimum. Instead, the use of low level furnishings define functional areas, further exaggerating the internal volume. The design also flaunts generous openings, with floor to ceiling doors that celebrate the verticality of the space while also providing effortless cross circulation throughout.

Office Zhu also introduced large blocks of nature-inspired colour to add warmth to the space. A carefully considered pallet of browns, pinks and greens in muted tones were placed sparingly across the horizontal plane, continuing the visual unity of the apartment.

Besides these, seats and lamps with vibrant silhouettes were selected to add visual interest and variation. The client also gave a final personal touch, producing a series of small sculptures and paintings to adorn the space.