House T by Kirin+Lab

A sanctuary perched above Hong Kong's bustling streets, House T by Kirin+Lab reimagines the concept of urban dwelling by dissolving boundaries between interior and nature. The 2,200-square-foot residence, designed for restaurant owners seeking weekend respite from city life, draws inspiration from Balinese resorts to create a tranquil escape.

Spread across three distinct levels, the house's spatial arrangement prioritizes both communal gathering and private contemplation. The ground floor serves as a social nucleus, featuring an innovative 2.5m x 2.5m multifunctional kitchen table that combines a kitchen counter, breakfast bar, and round dining booth. This central piece, complete with an integrated DJ booth, facilitates the owners' passion for entertaining and culinary experiences.

The second floor houses two guest rooms, each thoughtfully configured. One room combines a queen-size bed with an elevated bunk bed, while the other offers panoramic sea views complemented by a custom-designed reading nook finished with rattan wall panels and built-in seating. The third floor culminates in a master suite, where a tatami living area leads to a private bedroom space that exemplifies the project's connection to nature.

The master bathroom adopts a wellness-focused approach, where a freestanding bathtub creates an intimate dialogue between interior and exterior spaces. Positioned on an elevated wooden platform that extends to the outdoor balcony, the bathing area emphasizes ritualistic cleansing and relaxation. When the full-height folding doors are drawn open, the space transforms into a contemplative sanctuary where the boundaries between indoors and outdoors dissolve, allowing bathers to immerse themselves in both comfort and nature.

The bedrooms are oriented to maximize sea views, with expansive windows framing the coastal panorama from each sleeping quarters. At the crown of the building, a sculptural rooftop terrace houses an outdoor dining area and shower installation, creating opportunities for residents to engage with the elements. The shower, positioned under open sky, offers an experiential connection to nature while maintaining privacy through strategic screening.

The house's distinctive feature is its integration with the surrounding landscape, achieved through strategically placed full-height folding doors that dissolve the boundary between indoor and outdoor spaces. This architectural approach creates what the studio describes as a "fourth-dimension experience" – incorporating natural sounds such as wind, water, and birdsong into the living environment.

The material palette emphasizes sustainability and natural elements. Wood, bamboo, rattan, and stone dominate the interior scheme, chosen not only for their low carbon footprint but also for their sensory qualities. Rattan ceiling and wall panels serve a dual purpose, helping to regulate interior temperatures in Hong Kong's humid climate while adding textural depth. The use of reclaimed wood in select furniture pieces further underscores the project's environmental consciousness.

This considered arrangement of spaces progresses naturally from communal to intimate areas, with the rooftop serving as a contemplative finale. The seamless transition between interior and exterior spaces throughout each level reinforces the project's core focus on nature-integrated living, transforming a residential structure into an atmospheric retreat that responds to its coastal setting.

This progression through increasingly private domains, anchored by omnipresent natural connections, establishes House T as a meditative refuge that elevates the fundamentals of urban living through intentional architectural gestures.

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