Elingfeng

Tucked away beneath a canopy of emerald, Eling Park of Chongqing finds itself cradled by the arms of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers. It is within this harmonious fusion of mountain and water, a landscape of tender beauty, that a young couple chose to lay down their roots. With the children growing up, they made the decision to breathe new life into their dwelling.

Photo: ZHU Hai Video: ZHU Hai Stylist: ZHU Judy

This was an opportunity for a profound reimagining and reintegration of the homeowners' lifestyle. The design team initiated the transformation by focusing on the spatial structure, reorganising and integrating the layout. Accentuated the allure of the river scenery by expanding the outdoor terrace, they employed gentle contours to soften the inherent starkness of the construction. Through their creative endeavours, they seamlessly married the unique charm of the mountain city with the personal ethos of the homeowners, as well as blended their Western-oriented lifestyle with traditional local customs. Furniture, artworks, and decorations, each carrying a tapestry of precious memories and years spent in the homeowners' company, were lovingly preserved. Each object, finding its own harmonious niche, continues to narrate the enduring story of this home.

The couple possess a fondness for serenely elegant surroundings; thus the interiors predominantly sing in hues of white, vastly amplifying the luminescence of the space. On the first level, the designer maximized the breadth of the open space: kitchen, dining room, living room, and study merge and flow together in a harmonious horizontal and vertical interplay, creating a continuity of energy. A generous expanse of floor-to-ceiling windows floods the room with an ethereal brightness and a fluidity of ambiance. The generous terrace has been revitalized, now being adorned with an effervescent array of greenery. It provides a seamless transition between the living room and bedrooms, fostering a natural indoor-outdoor harmony. This layout bestows upon the homeowners an unrestrained indulgence in the grandeur of their exclusive riverside panorama.

Perched upon a hill and occupying a high floor, the residence was necessitated to incorporate numerous substantial columns and beams, potentially giving rise to a jarring visual intrusion and a sense of confinement. In addressing a structural column adjacent to the kitchen, the designer invoked the gentleness of curved lines to mellow the austere straight lines. From one flank of the column extends a storage unit, while a bar counter unfurls from the other. The bar counter invites a dynamic dialogue with the dining and living rooms and maintains a connection with the distinct Chinese and Western-style kitchens, thus enriching the spatial functionality. This layout provides a stage where the homeowners can either showcase their skill in preparing Western gourmet or satiate their 'Chongqing palate' with Sichuan cuisine and hot pots. Concerning the roof beams, the designers reimagined the ceiling, employing unique linear patterns for meticulous embellishment, thereby cleverly rendering the beams almost imperceptible.

In the salon, a writing desk is comfortably situated by the window, a picture of serene repose. In order to further fulfill their spiritual aspirations without imposing additional spatial burden, the designer has architecturally nestled a spiral staircase between the ground floor and the attic. Utilizing the unique, staggered space near the stairs, the designer has positioned a bookshelf and a plush armchair, thus crafting an intimate nook for quiet contemplation.

The designer has employed a delicate touch in curating both the space and life within, harmoniously melding elements that may initially appear to be polar opposites. This dwelling is a serene interface where the beauty of natural scenery meets an interior haven of tranquility; where soft hues and gentle curves alleviate the ruggedness and mystery inherent to its mountainside locale. It's a vibrant meeting point for the colliding lifestyles of the East and West. The residence serves not only as a testament to the homeowner's sophistication and elegance but also as a repository of life's quotidian intricacies and assorted complexities. Repurposed vintage furniture breathes new life into this space, heralding the gradual unfurling of a new epoch in the occupants' life.