A Place of One

A Place of One is a 29-ping loft apartment in New Taipei City, designed for a professional couple seeking a calm, functional, and emotionally resonant space. Rather than starting with aesthetics, the design responds to personal rhythms: his need for solitude and storage, her desire for openness and soft visual flow.

The space is anchored in a language of curves. Rounded transitions appear throughout—from the entryway and cabinetry to the staircase and lighting. These gestures reduce rigidity and introduce quiet movement. The vertical layout of the loft was rebalanced to maximize usable height, and a shared wall between the entry and wardrobe enhances spatial efficiency without visual clutter.

Reeded glass plays a pivotal role in separating public and private zones. Positioned behind the living room, its soft opacity ensures light permeability while maintaining privacy. This allows the upstairs study to transform into a guest room as needed. The design principle of “harmony within contrast” also informs the material palette: warm wood tones, textured glass, titanium trims, and soft metallic finishes create subtle layers without overwhelming the senses.

The TV wall, embedded into the structure, conceals cables and devices, and is finished with a champagne gold metallic-textured paint that adds a quiet elegance. This special coating is stain-resistant, making it both beautiful and practical—especially in proximity to the open kitchen.

Upstairs, a custom-built sliding bookshelf system and reading bench offer flexibility, intimacy, and storage in one continuous gesture. Mechanical systems were carefully concealed under the bench, preserving the spatial height and acoustic comfort. The reconfigured staircase not only improves circulation but acts as an architectural punctuation—marking the shift between daily zones with grace.

A Place of One is not a space that demands attention, but one that allows its inhabitants to simply live, reflect, and rest. It’s where the design quietly steps back so that the presence of living can emerge.
A place to return to. A place to become oneself.