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Situated in Bukit Panjang, which directly translates to long hill in Malay, the aptly named Gradient Space took inspiration from the abundance of nature and natural sloping terrain surrounding the urban area. The talented team from METRE Architects made no alterations to the floor plan and existing built-in cabinetry of the new studio apartment, opting for all design interventions to be additions. The key element being a single sloped gradient containing bed, sofa, working come dining table and coffee table all fused into one, the space and function changing as you move up and down the slope. Ample storage can be found inside the element, both underneath the bed and inside the half steps, which double as additional seating. The custom made the table and bench in the same diagonal geometry, fit into one another and allow for easy shifting and reconfiguration. All the carpentry is made from plywood core, finished in the same laminate as if everything was carved from a single piece of wood.

#smallapartment #architecture #interiordesign

Project Name: Gradient Space
Designer: https://www.metre.sg/

Produced by New Mac Video Agency
Creator: Colin Chee
Director: Nam Tran
Camera Operator: Kevin Siyuan
Producer: Lindsay Barnard
Editor: Colin Chee
Music: Lieu Despoir by Roseblue Artlist.io
Transcript
00:00What is unique about this is because it's a brand new apartment, so there was zero demolition, everything was addition.
00:09This unit is a studio apartment and the owner is a young professional.
00:15The client wanted the apartment to be a place where she could live, work and play.
00:21I'm Wen Chong Yen, Principal of Meter Architects.
00:33Pukit Panjang is literally an area where urbanity meets nature.
00:39It has residential blocks and mixed developments.
00:43Completed in 2018, the apartment was part of a new mixed development comprising residential blocks above the retail mall.
00:55When we first found this apartment, it was brand new and it came with finished bathroom and flooring, built-in
01:02kitchen counter and wardrobe.
01:05There were no alterations to the floor plan and the existing cabinets.
01:10All design interventions were additions to this studio apartment.
01:16We fused all the requirements into a single gradient.
01:21When you move up or down this slope, the space changes, the function changes.
01:30Upon entry to the unit is the kitchen.
01:34Along the wall on the right, we added a low bench kamshu cabinet, which rises as a diagonal across the
01:42entire wall,
01:44queuing the visitor's eye towards the daylight from the balcony.
01:51Past the glass partition, we've arrived at the main living dining space.
01:56Elements such as the bed, sofa, working dining table, coffee table are fused together as an assembly of horizontal planes
02:06of different heights.
02:07They form a sculpted landscape that rises from the ground, inviting its inhabitants to feel as if they are reclining
02:15on an open but intimate landscape.
02:20We raised the sides and back of the bed in diagonals, creating two corners, giving it a sense of intimacy,
02:29demarcating bedroom space without segregating.
02:32The mattress was detailed to recess partly into the frame, so that visually it looks lighter.
02:40The entire bed frame is on pistons to allow lifting to access the huge storage area underneath the bed.
02:49We incorporated half steps leading to the bed in order to save space, which form an elevation of storage cabinets
02:58of various sizes.
02:59These steps also become additional seating when friends come by for visit.
03:07We also custom designed the table and bench in the same diagonal geometry.
03:13The bench can be tucked into the table and both allows for easy shifting and reconfiguration.
03:21The diagonal that rises from the shoe cabinet to the balcony is the TV wall with console cabinet below.
03:29All these carpentry works are in plywood core finished in the same laminate to feel as if everything was carved
03:37from a single piece of wood.
03:39The diagonals along the TV cabinet and back of the bed are aligned with voice controlled LED lighting that is
03:48connected to Google Home.
03:50They strengthen the geometry and alter the mood of the space in the evening.
03:58We added a ceiling fan with integral light to allow the space to be naturally ventilated.
04:08The apartment came with a built-in sliding door wardrobe.
04:12We made no changes to that, but instead we created a small corridor in front of the wardrobe with the
04:19addition of the platform bed,
04:21so that it has a greater sense of privacy.
04:24We added a full-length dressing mirror beside the wardrobe, which also reflects natural light into the space.
04:33Past the sliding folding glass partition, we've arrived at the kitchen area to prevent cooking smell from dispersing to the
04:41rest of the apartment.
04:42The kitchen part is actually existing cabinets that we inherit.
04:47The kitchen has space for a fridge.
04:51It comes with built-in stove, hood and oven, with upper cabinet for storage.
04:58We continued the built-in upper and lower cabinets on this side of the partition.
05:03They are tapered to ease and efficiency of every movement around this corner towards the bathroom, can be smoother.
05:12We kept the bathroom as it was. It came fully furnished with basin, cabinet and water closet.
05:20The owner managed to feed a two-in-one washing machine and dryer beside the basin, which allows her to
05:26save space.
05:28I think residents in Bukit Panjang are indeed very fortunate because nature is just a stone's throw away.
05:36We abstracted nature into this apartment as a sloping ground to reinforce this proximity.
05:44We tried to demonstrate that purposeful form-making is achievable, even for a small interior project.
06:04a little folders.
06:05So how will you do it?
06:05It comes into a parking lot as we go, it comes to getting the lined resolved of water.
06:07The house has not been so busy.
06:07Beautiful to me.
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