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Pale timber flooring extends through the open-plan interior in parallel planks suggesting meticulous material coordination, establishing a warm tonal foundation across foreground, middle ground, and b
Matte cement-textured walls rendered in charcoal gray and warm taupe establish the dominant material vocabulary of Po Chuan Kao's Residence, where monolithic planar surfaces frame a carefully choreogr
Natural daylight pours through horizontal blinds creating a rhythmic striped pattern across this contemporary residential interior where warm cognac leather upholstery provides chromatic counterpoint
A panoramic view of Po Chuan Kao's Quiet Boundary Residence reveals an open-plan interior distinguished by its sophisticated orchestration of material contrasts, tonal harmonies, and spatial fluidity,
Quiet Boundary Residence by Po Chuan Kao

ACG Design International

Bronze Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2025

Quiet Boundary Residence

by Po Chuan Kao

  • A' Design Award 2025 Bronze Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
  • Awarded April 15, 2025
  • CLIENT: ACG Design International
  • Estimated Number of Design Views: 9,606
  • Verification code 2BE8FF15D7 · Verify this award
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About Quiet Boundary Residence

Quiet Boundary is a residential interior design for a 109 square meter apartment in Taiwan. The home contains two bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, a kitchen and two bathrooms. A sculptural stone door frame redefines the relationship between the entrance, the kitchen and the dining room, keeping natural light while separating the areas. The walls are hand finished with imported mineral paint in calm shades of gray. The master bedroom sits behind a gray wall and has a sloping ceiling. A two-way sofa keeps the circulation open.

Po Chuan Kao's Quiet Boundary Residence engages with the evolution of contemporary residential design toward spatial openness, material restraint, and architectonic clarity that characterizes international luxury interiors in the early twenty-first century, drawing from multiple design lineages including Scandinavian functionalism with its emphasis on natural light and wood warmth, Japanese minimalism with its celebration of shadow and interval, and mid-century modernist principles of honest materials and sculptural form. The residence demonstrates considerable compositional sophistication in its handling of spatial flow, where distinct functional zones for lounging, dining, and meal preparation occupy a continuous volume without physical barriers, unified through consistent material vocabulary and carefully calibrated tonal relationships that create visual cohesion while allowing each area to maintain subtle identity. The textured feature wall emerging from the left frame establishes immediate material presence, its horizontal linear relief creating rhythmic shadow play that animates an otherwise neutral surface and provides textural counterpoint to the smooth planes dominating the space, suggesting either applied timber battens, milled panels, or three-dimensional wall surfacing that adds haptic richness and acoustic benefit while serving as sculptural element anchoring the living zone. The lighting strategy reveals particular technical accomplishment, deploying concealed linear LED sources within architectural recesses to wash ceiling planes with graduated illumination that enhances spatial volume while maintaining fixture invisibility, a contemporary approach to ambient lighting that emphasizes architecture over hardware and creates the impression of luminous surfaces rather than illuminated objects, complemented by the sculptural pendant fixture whose abstract looping form provides focal punctuation and establishes human scale within the expansive ceiling plane. The furniture selections demonstrate curatorial restraint and attention to form quality: the modular seating with its generous proportions and rounded profiles offers visual softness within the rectilinear architectural framework, while the dining chairs with their sculptural frames and warm leather upholstery introduce organic curves and the composition's warmest chromatic accent, creating visual and thermal balance against the cool-toned material palette. The material strategy throughout suggests commitment to quality and longevity over trend-driven statement, the pale timber flooring providing continuous warmth underfoot, the gray-toned surfaces offering sophisticated neutrality that allows light and shadow to perform expressively, and the strategic accent colors in terra cotta and cognac introducing just enough warmth to prevent austerity while maintaining overall tonal discipline. The space seems to explore tensions between openness and enclosure, invitation and retreat, architectural formality and domestic ease, proposing an environment where the precision and clarity of minimalist principles serve rather than dominate habitation, where restraint creates space for lived experience rather than imposing aesthetic orthodoxy. One might observe how the composition manages visual interest through subtle variation within narrow tonal range, how lighting operates sculpturally to define space and mood, how the interplay of texture, scale, and proportion creates richness without complexity, and how the design ultimately invites consideration of contemporary domesticity's evolving relationship with simplicity, materiality, and the choreography of daily life within thoughtfully composed spatial and sensory frameworks.

Press Kit

Unique Properties
This project challenges the 'less is more' trend, focusing instead on creating a home that addresses the needs and desires of the occupants. The entrance area was restored first, and a sculptural stone door frame was added to redefine the relationship between the entrance, kitchen, and dining room. This maintains light while establishing clear circulation and separate spaces, creating a sense of calm. The master bedroom, hidden behind a gray wall, is bathed in natural light. A sloping ceiling adds an airy, vacation-like feel to the space.
Dimensions & Packaging
The site is a new apartment with a total area of 109 square meters, featuring 2 bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, 2 bathrooms, and a kitchen. In Taiwan's current housing market, kitchens are often positioned near the entrance, forming a circulation path with the rear balcony. Unlike traditional layouts where kitchens are placed at the back, this project positions the kitchen at the front, making the spatial flow between the entrance, kitchen, and dining room critical. Additionally, the two-way sofa in the living room can be staggered or stacked along the circulation route, ensuring both functional adaptability and spatial fluidity.
Tags
Dark tone, additive principle, spatial connection, calm atmosphere, natural lighting.
Production Technology
Materials: iron parts, titanium-plated baking paint, glass, imported mineral paint, imported tiles, imported wood flooring, marble, etc.
The gray base emphasizes modernity. Hand-colored with imported mineral paints, its unique rendering technique adds a sense of calm and elegance. Each wall is a work of art. The transitions between colors are natural and harmonious, providing the occupants with a serene yet subtle visual experience.
Design Challenge
The original layout was different from that commonly found in Taiwan. The entrance is connected to the dining room and kitchen, rather than the living room which is the centerpiece of family life. The designers needed to create a clear demarcation within the existing layout. Setting up a 'relay station' in the space balances the core. This approach achieves visual and functional continuity between functional areas, while maintaining openness and fluid circulation, resulting in an intuitive and aesthetically pleasing home.
Project Duration
The project finished in January 2024 in Taiwan.
Operation Flow
The family is very satisfied with the perfect balance between openness and seclusion, especially the view of the mountains and rivers from the windows with the spacious interior. The two-way sofa allows for smooth circulation. On a psychological level, the different shades of gray make it more appealing and comfortable, thus achieving a stress-relieving effect.
Research
The project, 'Quiet Boundary,' represents a thoughtful approach to spatial demarcation. Using inverse thinking and subtle design, the designers created a home with depth and layering. In the dark modern aesthetic, spatial connections enhance the depth of field while emphasizing family interaction. The 'addition' principle redefines the entrance, kitchen, and dining area, maintaining order while allowing natural light to flow. In the master bedroom, a window-length sofa offers storage and a cozy sitting area, inviting residents to relax and enjoy the view.
Inspiration
The site is a new apartment. The overall design is based on the theme of calmness, to convey depth and privacy. The designers conveyed the core concept through inversion and subtlety in an attempt to create a design with depth and layers. In a dark modern space, the connections between areas create depth of field and position the function and role of 'home'. The project emphasizes the interaction and communication between family members and achieves a design that is both modern and fulfills the needs of family living.
Image Credits
ACG Design International

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