This hone in Haikou, China is an interplay between the hidden and exposed. Overlooking a sea of lush greenery, New Office Works (NOW) used the juxtaposition of garden, nature and infrastructure as the starting point for the project. Nature overflows into the living space while a central spiral stair connecting two floors is enclosed by a curved concrete wall, acting as an urban fragment of the city.

Founded by Paul Tse and Evelyn Ting, NOW is a Hong Kong-based architecture and design studio devoted to the production of inventive spaces and objects. The office creates projects that build upon the vocabulary accumulated “then” while satisfying the needs and desires of “now.” From buildings and interiors to art installations and furniture, each project encompasses an exploration of detail and material.

For this project, Paul and Evelyn flipped the typical division of domestic functions on its head, contrasting with the norm of housing typologies. The private functions, including the master bedroom, bathroom and wardrobe, remain on the first floor, opening onto double-height floor-to-ceiling windows that bring in an abundance of natural light and are surrounded by an indoor garden. Above, on the loft level, the public functions—living room, kitchen, and study—are cocooned earthy timber walls and pockets of windows.

To complement the indoor garden, a natural palette of materials is used throughout the house. On the ground floor, the warmth of the walnut flooring and built-in joinery is paired with large travertine slabs and white pebbles. Blackened steel is used for the spiral stair, window frame and balustrades. Its smoothness is a counterpoint to the tactile quality of the stone and wood.

[Images courtesy of New Office Works.]