A.RK Interior Design: Creating a Modern and Neutral Toned Apartment

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a modern and neutral toned apartment design by 2023 SBID Awards Finalist, A.RK Interior Design.

A.RK Interior Design was chosen to design the latest show apartment at the Wuhan TianDi YunTing, China for the Shanghai based Developer Shui On. The 4 bedroom apartment Is located on the 26 Floor of this high rise residential apartment offering panoramic views of the Yangtze River. The apartment features bespoke furniture throughout paired with contemporary artworks. It was a conscientious effort to design a space that exemplifies the living lifestyle of a modern family and to breakthrough the traditional sense of display. Intentional removing the sofa from the living room enhances its usage of space to its full capacity.

What was the client's brief? 

To create a home requires an emotional connection and sense of belonging, and not tied down by physical things. To create a space that's flexible, open planned space with more opportunities to leave their bedrooms and put down their devices, so as to communicate and interact with each other; enhancing the use of space to its fullness in a more pragmatic way and not in the traditional sense of display.

What inspired the design of the project?

To bring inspiration and motivation to all families especially parents, that a space can actively become the families’ core for love, education and ultimately growth.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

We want to break away from the tradition of having a sofa in the living room; integrating the communal spaces in to a large room where members of the family can interact and be social. We envision these spaces to be part of bringing the family closer and not a space for entertaining.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

We made the largest space in our home, relinquish to the most important people in the home which are the family members, not outside guests. Our living room did away with bulky sofas, coffee tables and TVs. For this we have provided an elevated platform where they are have more freedom.

The big dining table in the house that is never empty, the family would gather around that dining table together, eating, working, reading, and studying. It becomes a vital space for family bonding.

Reading has its many benefits and we specifically design this space so that the reader has many locations to read like on the platform next the full height windows overlooking the Yangtze river, on the bean bag or snuggle in a cosy chair in front of the fire. We hope to create this Library of books to open up the world for the children to explore.

Why did you enter the SBID Awards?

SBID awards is a prestigious international platform where peers from the industry are evaluated by leading experts. SBID is also an internationally recognisable and revered leading accreditation body.

What has being an Award Finalist meant to you and your business?

We are stoked to be part of the Award Finalist and to be on the same platform as the world's industry leaders is an honor. It further endorses our effort to be part of this elite group and to be recognised for our design excellence. It is an addition to our accolades of awards and has open many doors for further opportunities and is a great tool to provide confidence to our potential clients.

Questions answered by Agatha Teng, Founder and Creative Director of A.RK Interior Design.