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Issue 62 - Living in the Environment Issue

Issue 62

Living in the Environment Issue

Issue 62 is the first issue of the year and always a great time to put our best foot forward. With Adam Goodrum, the loveliest man in design, as Guest Editor, we draw on his insights as a furniture designer, artist and educator to look at the makers shaping our design world. Sustainability has never been more important, and increasingly this is a consideration from the start with projects designed to address their immediate environment as well as the longevity of the planet. From the coldest winters to the most tropical of summers, addressing how we live in the environment is crucial to creating the perfect home.

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More than child’s play
ApartmentsAiris Abdullah

More than child’s play

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With some imagination, even modestly sized apartments can offer homeowners all that they want – like a playground. Why not?


Gutting the interiors was the starting point that provided the freedom to reimagine how this apartment in Taiwan could be used best for the family of four. Formerly the kitchen and back balcony, the areas to the left of the main entrance have been reconfigured into a roomy storage room and a cosy workroom. This move allowed HAO Design to bring the kitchen further into the home to occupy what was previously a bedroom.

The main thrust of this move was to better connect the kitchen, living room and the kids’ bedroom (which is also a playground!). From the kitchen, the couple can keep watch on the children as they have fun in their own space, while sliding doors allow their room to be closed off when needed.

A slide is fun now when the children are young. But when they are older, this playground be disassembled, and the customised carpentry can take on new function with the addition of a clothes rail and drawers.

In the living room, the sofa’s tapered backrests can be adjusted so the family can sit or lie down in both directions. This adaptable furniture piece signals openness and flexibility. Opting for a projector and nesting the speakers so that they blend into the projection wall also ensures visual entertainment does not become the focus of the space.

There is a sense of liveliness to the home, where each space flows to the next. The open layout aids the family’s everyday rituals that bring comfort, care and connection. As the boys explore and play, the couple can each engage in their favourite activities: music, photography, coffee and wine tasting for the husband, and cooking and reading for the wife.

Happiness experts extol the necessity of everyday rituals that make life flow and structure the day for joy. That was the aim of HAO Design, which wanted to create a home that enhances the sense of togetherness as the family members go about their day.

HAO Design
haodesign.tw

We think you might like this home in Singapore, designed by Park + Associates


About the Author

Airis Abdullah

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apartmentfamily homeInterior DesignplaygroundSingaporesingapore apartment


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Issue 62 - Living in the Environment Issue

Issue 62

Living in the Environment Issue

Issue 62 is the first issue of the year and always a great time to put our best foot forward. With Adam Goodrum, the loveliest man in design, as Guest Editor, we draw on his insights as a furniture designer, artist and educator to look at the makers shaping our design world. Sustainability has never been more important, and increasingly this is a consideration from the start with projects designed to address their immediate environment as well as the longevity of the planet. From the coldest winters to the most tropical of summers, addressing how we live in the environment is crucial to creating the perfect home.

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