A Curvaceous Coastal Apartment
T.K. Chu Design has recently completed a model apartment in a mixed-use development in Zhuhai, taking design cues from the ocean vista and incorporating curves and arches to reference the sea and travel
Design Anthology: How did you first meet the client?
TK Chu: I’ve worked with the real estate developer for almost ten years. I vividly remember our first project with, a splendid villa in Suzhou called Tang Island Residence. Throughout all these years, the developer has trusted me completely and given me enough freedom to create unique spaces. This apartment in Marina Centre is another perfect example of our partnership.
Who did you have in mind when designing this apartment?
This project is designed for people who frequently travel from one city or country to another and therefore have a global perspective. They prefer their home to be a multifunctional space, so we wanted to make this project not just a living space but also incorporate elements of a social lounge and resort.
What was the brief to you for the project?
Zhuhai is quite a unique location — I find its landscape, environment, geographic position and existing buildings very exciting. We wanted to link our design to the idea of childhood memories and tales of the sea.
At first, the client wanted the 700-square-metre apartment to have a more traditional style, with a tea room and traditional music room, in line with their own aesthetic preferences, but they still wanted it to be stylish and have international appeal. So, we made an effort to demonstrate a contemporary take on traditional Chinese home design, but keep a sense of grandeur at the same time. We also wanted to integrate the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge, which can be seen from the apartments. As a whole, the design creates a a dialogue with the sea, and the result is a fusion of traditional Chinese and contemporary aesthetics.
What’s unique about the building and the location?
Yanlord Marina Centre fronts the Zhuhai coast and looks onto the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge and further to the island of Macau. With the rapid development of the Greater Bay Area, Zhuhai has become a new driving force for economic development in southeast China.
The ocean views are a highlight, and the building itself reflects this vista, with its streamlined appearance and architectural curve designed to imitate sailing vessels and waves. The interior layout brings the indoors and outdoors together, and this is especially noticeable in the model apartment we designed, which is a spacious duplex on the top floor that enjoys beautiful views.
How did you approach the project, and what design references did you try to incorporate into the space?
The design is really influenced by the ocean, and we conceived several symbols to reflect this, including the windows next to the stairs, which evoke portholes and symbolise travel and navigation. The design of the living room, dining room and corridor are filled with variations of arches and apertures, and give the space a curvaceous, poetic feel, while the use of curves and ocean-blue furnishings are reminiscent of the coastline and waves. We selected a materials palette of various types of marble and stainless steel to enhance the sense of lightness and openness throughout.
Please tell us about some of the custom pieces for the space.
I always like to incorporate art into my designs, and for this project I collaborated with several artists to create custome art works that create a poetic and healing environment. They are all quite warm and bestow a simple and playful atmosphere that gives the space a sense of purity and joy. I want the art to give a feeling of hope and courage for anyone who visits the apartment.
Do you have a favourite element or design detail in the architecture or interiors?
I must admit that curves are my precious muse, and you can see them in many of my projects. Although they can be expensive and time consuming to produce, as Gaudi said, ‘the straight line belongs to man, the curve to God.’
Image / Boris Shiu
