BW Timeless丨沐光居所

Adequate lighting not only illuminates the space but also brings people a bright and pure sensory experience. This unique attribute of broadening the emotional boundaries of space and enhancing the power of scenes coincides with how most people perceive their home space—simplicity with depth, tranquility accompanied by soft whispers.

The latest work of BW timeless is located on the top floor of a foreign-style villa in Beijing, featuring a butterfly-like spatial layout that maximizes the potential for every corner of the home to bask in natural light.

In response to the residents' longing for an "ideal home that is natural and bright," the design team, guided by the light, carried out extensive demolitions and renovations to the original fine decoration, redefining the pathways of light and life to create a poetic coexistence. Meanwhile, the design team presented the hard-decoration details with an architectural approach, emphasizing the immaterial expression of light through crisp structural volumes. On the minimalist backdrop, the design also reserves natural room for growth for the residents.

"Achieving transparency to let more light into the house" is the highlight of this design and the starting point of all creations. By removing overly complicated and oppressive ceilings, the height of the rooms is unleashed. The proportional relationships among different functional areas are optimized, allowing for a more spontaneous and lively lifestyle. With the expanded reach of light, the daily life of the residents becomes harmonious and joyful.

The brightness that greets you upon entering stems from the transformation of the entrance and the corridor space that extends forward. By breaking down the boundaries between the cloakroom and the secondary bathroom, a circular route centered around the cloakroom initiates a journey through the entire home illuminated by light, making the return home more convenient and logical with a series of actions such as hanging clothes, changing shoes, and washing hands.

The design of the cloakroom focuses on transparency, exemplified by the pocket door that connects it to the study room at full height, directly introducing the northern window light into the study, allowing both light and space to flow freely. The full-wall mirror cabinet also presents a more complete spatial function, enabling one to dress and check their outfit comfortably from any angle within the cloakroom.

The living room extends upward along the sloping ceiling, with windows on three sides bringing a spacious and warm lighting ambiance to the space. Semi-transparent Roman shades serve to filter the light during hot summer days, creating a softer scattered light.

The staircase, with a strong sculptural presence, functions more as a spatial decoration. The transparent steps create rhythmic light and shadow effects, while the handrails adopt a lightweight sheet structure with elegant curved angles, providing a more comfortable experience for moving up and down.

After a crisp turn through the curved archway, another scene symbolizing gathering is arranged in the dining room. The original layout where the dining room served as a transitional space between the kitchen and guest bedroom, the design team opted for an open kitchen approach, connecting the dining and kitchen spaces with an island counter, effectively eliminating the obstacle that the dining table posed to navigation between several spaces.

Removing the complicated ceiling in the original design not only enhances the spatial experience of the dining room but also unexpectedly gains a skylight for natural lighting. Sunlight pours into the room from above, complemented by the restored sloping ceiling structure. During the night, one can notice the light strip hidden in the center of the ridge, creating a divine serenity through the fascinating interaction between people, light, and space, and infusing the scene with a reassuring beauty of strength.

The integration of the dining and kitchen spaces has led to a diverse and complementary blend of space and functionality. For instance, the residents' request for a double-door refrigerator was fulfilled by installing two single-door, built-in refrigerators on opposite sides of the kitchen and near the dining table, respectively, with each focusing on different types of food storage. This arrangement also fully optimizes the space, making mealtimes both practical and elegant.

The black cabinets, the only dark blocks in the interior, accentuate the structural beauty of the building's roof through contrast. They are complemented by two relatively large and simple pendant lights, creating a harmonious trio that adorns the slightly elevated ceiling space just right.

The white double-headed architectural lights, serving as supplementary lighting at night, further emphasize the roof's design. Four dining chairs, each with a unique yet design-conscious shape, continue the visual hierarchy on the ground, complementing the rustic and natural solid wood dining table to form a rich yet balanced aesthetic expression.

While enjoying intimate companionship, residents also aspire to have independent and private living spaces. Both being corporate executives with busy schedules and differing routines, many modifications in their home reflect thoughtful considerations for co-living experiences at different times.

From a broader perspective, the entire home is divided into a main living area and a guest area through the living room and dining room. The main living area, centered around the master bedroom and connected to the cloakroom, study, and primary and secondary bathrooms, serves as the primary living space for the residents. On the opposite side, the guest area thoughtfully connects the bedroom and guest bathroom through the cloakroom, with no distinct boundaries between the three spaces, creating a more spacious and bright ambiance due to visual continuity.

The study, which the couple prefers to call their workstudio, is where they spend most of their time at home. Despite its small size, the design, with windows on both sides, greatly alleviates the enclosed feeling of the small space. Open shelves paired with intelligent square lighting panels create a minimalist yet textured atmosphere. Two arm-like pendant lights add a "cool" vibe to daily work and entertainment.

The master bedroom also embraces a transparent and minimalist aesthetic. A large wardrobe at the foot of the bed, complemented by a secondary wardrobe for less frequently worn clothing, meets daily needs and aligns with living habits.

A pocket door is still used between the master bathroom and the master bedroom, maintaining a sleek and uncluttered look when open. The double sinks are designed with storage space tailored to the individual usage habits of the couple, making it convenient to put items back in their place, enabling an efficient daily routine. The design of the secondary bathroom, on the other hand, thoughtfully considers not disturbing the partner during early morning routines.

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The attic, with its natural privacy advantage, naturally becomes the ideal spot for the couple's daily leisure. Catering to their diverse interests, it has been transformed into a comprehensive space that doubles as a "music room" and a "home theater." With a professional soundproof layer installed early on and a warm wooden finish, it awaits the arrival of a drum set and guitars. The pre-installed surround sound system further enhances their movie-watching experience with a sense of quality.

Similarly featuring a tall ridge and slanted skylight, the attic differs from the dining room in its slightly lower ceiling height, just enough for people to stand and walk, creating an enclosed atmosphere that offers a rare sense of relaxation.

Architects often consider light as a decorative element in space, and lighting appropriately lends emotion, character, and expressiveness to the volume and surface of the space. Following the guidance of light, we, guided by the design team's narrative, observe the potential for space to be carved into various subspaces and places. Moreover, the comfortable rhythm, sense of scale, and intimacy that constitute the essence of life and daily routines are subtly embedded in the details, unfolding gradually over time in the space occupied by the residents.

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项目地点 | 中国北京

项目面积 | 260㎡

设计公司 | BW timeless建筑室内设计事务所

主持设计 | 白笛（法），尉然

项目摄影 | 立明

BW timeless Interior Design是由中法夫妻设计师尉然和BRET Baptiste主理的建筑室内设计事务所，于2017年在巴黎左岸七区Rue Barbet de Jouy成立，2021年在北京成立，项目涉及住宅、商业空间、建筑设计，服务范围法国、中国。"BW"是主理人夫妻姓氏的首字母，也是英文中黑与白的首字母。“timeless”是“经典”也是事务所对待设计的态度和终极追求。事务所致力于关注空间与环境关系，崇尚自然主义，做经典且有温度的作品。