MENGJIE LI
Designer:
Size:
Completed:
Photography:
Mengjie Li
100sqm
2021
FF Studio
This apartment was designed for a young couple, situated in a leafy high-rise community in Shanghai. The project transforms a pre-finished second-floor apartment into a calm, light-filled retreat. The balcony overlooks a canopy of mature trees; the filtered daylight creates a gentle play of shadows that shifts with the seasons. Both clients are architects who value spatial openness and natural light, embracing a “less is more” philosophy that reflects their minimalist lifestyle.
Design Strategy
- The kitchen was opened up and integrated with a bar counter, responding to the couple’s occasional cooking habits and desire for an airy, social space.
- A continuous circulation loop was introduced along the apartment’s elongated axis, with the bar counter and dining table forming a clear north–south alignment.
- Storage and large appliances, including the refrigerator, were concealed within a full-height wall cabinet, ensuring visual coherence and simplicity.
- Each space was designed for flexibility: the guest room doubles as a study, while the balcony accommodates both the laundry area and the husband’s workspace.