Iron Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2020
The Mermaid's Home
by Marty Chou
- A' Design Award 2020 Iron Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Awarded April 15, 2020
- CLIENT: Ms. Lee
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 10,011
- Verification code 186C020152 · Verify this award
About The Mermaid's Home
The Mermaid's is a residential interior design for a 90 square meter apartment in Taiwan. The space is conceived as a gallery for the owner's collections rather than a conventional home. A mermaid figure from a new collection became the central theme, setting the semi-monochrome palette and the calm atmosphere. Classical molding is used as a design tool. The vertical lines make the space appear higher, and they conceal room doors and storage cabinets. Daily functions are hidden to keep the view simple. Furniture is selected for contrast between straight and curved forms.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- During the design, came a new collection - a little Mermaid. Her serene quality caught me and my mind started to evolve around her. She became the focal point and anchor of the space, the tone of the ambiance, and the source of the semi-monochrome palette.
In the end, the entire space is the extend-dimension of this fantastical creature. She is the soul of this space; the soul that reflect the essence of the elegant lady. - Dimensions & Packaging
- The interior space is 90 square-meter.
- Tags
- Interior design, Home Gallery, Modern Classic, Minimalism, monochrome space, monochrome palette, Taiwan
- Production Technology
- The classical molding here is used not merely as decoration but more as a design tool. Its vertically stretching quality makes the space appears to be higher than it actually is. It also hides away the doors of rooms and storage cabinets, unified and simplified the visual elements, and create a sense of serenity and calmness for the space.
- Design Challenge
- The main challenge of this project is about finding balance, mainly between practicality and fantasy, decorative and minimal, classical and modern.
- Project Duration
- The project started in July 2017 in Taiwan and finished in June 2018.
- Operation Flow
- To respond to the owner's wish to live in a not-home-like place, I conceive the entire space as a gallery of her collections and display of her taste. Daily function and storage are hidden away to create a sense of optimal airy-ness, so the eyes only see the most essentials. Furniture selection focuses on the quality of contrast between straight and curve, thick and thin, light and heavy, as they are displayed sculptural pieces. As for the Mermaid, its elements are used throughout the entire space; the choice of materials, the fabrics, and colors, are all inspired by her.
- Research
- This project is an experiment of utilizing the owner's collection not merely as ornament, but to be the main concept and inspiration of the space. And also, to incorporate the owner's fascination of classical molding into contemporary design.
- Inspiration
- In the beginning, the owner of this apartment, an elegant and beautiful lady, told me that she would like to live in a place, where its ambiance is ambiguous, less like a home, more like a sanctuary in dream, in which she could be isolated and indulged with her on-going collections in this timeless, sacred space.
- Image Credits
- Photo Credit: Kyle Yu Photo Studio
Colors of The Mermaid's Home
Design Interview about The Mermaid's Home
In the beginning, the owner of this apartment, an elegant and beautiful lady, told me: “I’d like to live in a place, where its ambiance is ambiguous, less like a home, more like a sanctuary in dream, where I could be isolated and indulged with my on-going collections in this timeless, sacred space.” During the design process, she obtained a new collection, a mermaid statue. Its serene quality caught me and my mind started to evolve around her.
I wanted the Mermaid to become the focal point and anchor of the space, the tone of the ambiance, and the source of the material palette for the space. So at the end, the entire space is the extend-dimension of the Mermaid.
I hope it can be shared with people who love it around the world.
6 months for design phase.
It is commissioned solely to me.
This design is custom-made to this particular client.
I design this particular type of work because the client has unique taste and she trusted me that I can deliver what she asks for. And most of all, this design language is something I have not try before.
This design is custom-made to this particular client.
Usually, design tends to add and accumulate ornament, this design elevates ornament as spatial inspiration.
The name of this residential interior design, The Mermaid, is inspired directly by the owner’s collection, and it is also the spatial inspiration of the design.
Pen and sketchbook.
I try to be simple and clear.
Simple and clear.
We spend a lot of time testing and selecting the right materials and approach to achieve the mermaid-inspired palette and atmosphere. The color palette is seemingly monochrome, but it is actually filled with a hint of vivid colors. The atmosphere is seemingly light and airy, but the space is actually formed by a series of heavy masses and rigid geometry.
This is my first time designing space with ornament and classical language. I learn a great deal of how to use ornament not merely as decorative object, but elevate it to be the space-driven concept.