“Undulating Compact Home” is a renovated small apartment in Hong Kong designed to minimize friction among family members by incorporating an integrated design approach and meticulous planning to conceal the belongings of busy parents, creating a gentle environment for their new baby. Its central “Undulating Wall” unifies the spatial flow, acts as a wayfinding feature, and conceals a bathroom, cabinetry, and mechanical systems. Furthermore, the implementation of ‘horizontal’ and ‘vertical’ cabinetry allows additional wall space to be exposed, creating the illusion of a bigger apartment. Hence, plentiful storage does not detract from an elegant, sensual, and minimalist interior.

The client, a young family with a new baby, already lived in the 53 sq. meter apartment with a vast amount of belongings. They were genuinely concerned about how clutter was affecting their relationship and family organization. The designers started off by analyzing the family's belongings and projected 10-year growth by considering the baby and his parents' evolving needs. They then classified everything into 'daily necessities' and 'long-term storage' and placed the former in more ergonomically accessible positions, and vice versa.

Central to the design was the concept of organized and maximal concealment, rigorously balancing a reduced budget and demanding schedule. The primary design element – “The Undulating Wall” – has a curvilinear surface that extends from the kitchen through the corridor and into the bedroom. Its purpose is to integrate various needs: storage, order, budget, simplicity, and to offer a sense of softness and exploration for the baby.

The addition of ‘horizontal’ storage systems on top of conventional ‘vertical’ ones create the illusion of a more spacious home by maximizing empty wall space. (‘Vertical’ cabinetry such as closets or dressers are typical in most homes.) The designers incorporated hydraulic hardware to lift up an entire master bedroom floor, creating storage underneath for off-season clothes and valuables. In the corridor, the whole ceiling contains integrated built-in millwork to house Chinese dried food items and less-used luggage, as with the bedroom desk and living room bench that transform into storage through a flip-up mechanism.

A sense of order is achieved through modest but precise design gestures—meticulous planning and an integrative approach by ADRO encourages a circuitous flow amongst the family members. As there was minimal use of material and no need for demolition, ADRO was able to propose an economical way of creating an elegant, timeless backdrop with a neutral palette that elevates the family’s daily rituals.