Interview about The Circadian Home Highrise Residence, winner of the A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award 2025
A home should be a sanctuary for relaxation and revitalization, reflecting personal qualities, open, transparent, safe, and inviting. After the challenges of the pandemic, creating an environment that harmonizes with natural elements has become especially important, particularly as circadian rhythms are closely tied to daily life. The Circadian Home maximizes the flow of natural light into the space, with each area considering the user's habits and needs. The homeowner can naturally and effortlessly follow the rhythm of day and night, promoting physical and mental wellbeing.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsWhen it comes to interior design, lighting isn’t just a practical necessity—it’s the secret ingredient that shapes how we experience a space, day and night. Thoughtful planning of light flow throughout the home is essential, ensuring each room aligns perfectly with its intended use and atmosphere.The first step? Consider the orientation of your home and the surrounding environment. Understanding which direction your windows face and what lies beyond them—be it open skies, leafy trees, or neighboring buildings—will help you harness natural light to its fullest potential.Spaces designed for daytime activities, such as living rooms and dining areas, should bask in the glow of natural sunlight. Positioning these welcoming, communal zones close to windows creates bright, uplifting environments that invite conversation and comfort. Meanwhile, more private areas like family rooms or media spaces can be tucked deeper inside the floor plan, where a cocoon-like ambiance is often preferred.But natural light shouldn’t be limited to rooms with windows alone. Creative solutions—think sliding doors or operable screens—can help connect different areas, allowing sunlight to filter through and brighten even the most secluded corners. This thoughtful approach not only maximizes daylight but also fosters a sense of openness and fluidity throughout the home.By planning for both function and flow, you can create interiors that truly shine—morning, noon, and night.
Design Solutions in the Digital Age: Blending Traditional Craft and Modern TechToday’s designers have an arsenal of creative tools at their disposal when it comes to resolving on-site challenges, Gone are the days of relying solely on blueprints and phone calls. Now, a blend of traditional methods and cutting-edge technology allows us to tackle problems from every angle—quite literally.Take a recent project as an example. To address a specific issue with the bar’s structure and orientation, I turned to a variety of mediums: quick hand sketches to capture initial ideas, 3D digital models to explore forms in virtual space, and even physical models to truly understand the angles and construction details. Each technique offered unique insights, helping bring the solution into sharper focus.But the real game-changer is how technology bridges distances. With collaborators scattered across different countries, digital platforms have become our virtual meeting tables. Through screen sharing and real-time communication, I can walk contractors through my proposed solutions, down to the finest detail. Their feedback? Instantly received and seamlessly integrated—thanks to the power of modern design software.This dynamic blend of hands-on creativity and digital connectivity ensures that technical issues are not just resolved, but refined—efficiently, collaboratively, and with a global reach. In today’s design landscape, innovation knows no borders.
Intuitive by Design: Simplicity at the CoreMy design philosophy is rooted in the belief that great design should feel effortless—just as intuitive as using an iPhone for the first time. With this in mind, I strive to seamlessly integrate multiple functions into a single device, piece of equipment, or space, ensuring everything works together harmoniously without unnecessary complexity.The goal isn’t to overwhelm, but to enrich the experience. By blending versatility and simplicity, I aim to create environments and products that are not only beautiful, but also instinctively easy to use—where every feature feels natural, and sophistication is found in thoughtful details, not in complicated layers.In a world where technology and design often collide, I believe the best solutions are those that quietly anticipate your needs—making life simpler, smoother, and more enjoyable, one intuitive interaction at a time.
Collaboration in Craft: Working with Yue Fu ChinaOne of the greatest pleasures in my design career has been collaborating with the skilled construction team at Yue Fu China. Their professionalism and dedication are apparent in every phase of the process, especially when it comes to balancing design ambition with practical constraints.When I specify a standout feature—be it a striking material or a unique structural detail—I’m always mindful that exceptional quality often comes at a premium. Yet, Yue Fu China consistently rises to the challenge, working closely with me to find smart, cost-effective solutions that never compromise on the original vision.A recent example stands out: While selecting stone slabs, we reviewed countless options from various factories, often relying on photos and video calls to make decisions remotely. When our chosen stone wasn’t available in sufficient quantities, the Yue Fu team didn’t simply suggest a substitute. Instead, they proposed a creative approach, collaborating with me to maximize every slab and minimize waste. Through thoughtful planning and meticulous execution, we were able to stretch resources without sacrificing design integrity.This level of transparency and ingenuity not only solves technical challenges—it also builds trust. Our clients see firsthand that we’re not just resolving issues as they arise, but also keeping their interests and investment top of mind. Ultimately, it’s this spirit of collaboration and care that elevates a project from good to truly great.
Redefining the Home Office: A Post-Pandemic Perspective.The COVID-19 pandemic transformed the way we work, making remote efficiency not just a necessity, but a new standard. Like so many others, my client found himself spending less time in traditional office settings and more time working from home—a shift that prompted a thoughtful reimagining of his workspace.To address this change, I designed his home office as a space that supports productivity without overwhelming his personal sanctuary. Rather than replicating a corporate workstation, I focused on creating a study adjacent to his bedroom, separated by operable doors. This arrangement offers both privacy and flexibility, while the relaxed atmosphere ensures the space feels like an extension of his home, not just a place to clock in.By blending function and comfort, the home office becomes a seamless part of daily life—reducing commute time and enhancing work-life balance, all while providing everything he needs to succeed from the comfort of home.
The Art of Simplicity: Design That FlowsFor me, simplicity—my guiding “S”—is not just a principle, but a way of creating spaces that flow effortlessly, like water finding its natural course. My ultimate aim is to make life easier and more beautiful through thoughtful design.As I’ve mentioned before, it’s never just about aesthetics; it’s about crafting environments that are as intuitive as they are striking. Every element is considered not only for its visual appeal, but also for how seamlessly it integrates into daily life. The result? Spaces where beauty and ease coexist, elevating the experience for every occupant.
A Kitchen Designed for Connection and CultureAt the heart of the home, the open kitchen and bar area is thoughtfully designed to foster both functionality and social connection. A sleek sliding door links this inviting space to the enclosed eastern kitchen, which seamlessly connects to the back-of-house door and service lift—an essential feature for efficient household operations.For Asian cooking, where robust flavors and aromatic dishes are part of daily life, it’s crucial to consider ventilation and separation. The enclosed kitchen ensures that smoke and scent are expertly contained, allowing for a variety of cooking methods without impacting the comfort of the main living areas.When it’s time to entertain, the design comes into its own. Whether the client is preparing tea, hosting a hotpot dinner, or mixing drinks, the bar offers a welcoming setting where guests can gather around the long counter, enjoying effortless interaction with their host. It’s a space where culinary culture and meaningful moments seamlessly blend, making every gathering both comfortable and memorable.
There was a period in China when strict regulations made site visits for construction teams challenging, slowing down on-site work significantly. For me, the situation was even more complex—I was pregnant, and the prospect of traveling under quarantine restrictions on both ends made site visits impossible.This unique set of circumstances called for a creative shift in our construction approach. The contractor pivoted to an off-site production model, which not only kept the project moving forward but also brought unexpected benefits. By fabricating components off-site, we dramatically reduced waste and minimized the need for constant commuting.In hindsight, the experience was eye-opening. Not flying across continents to inspect the site undoubtedly lessened my personal carbon footprint. Imagine the positive impact if more projects around the world adopted similar strategies—rethinking traditional workflows in favor of smarter, more sustainable solutions. Sometimes, adapting to obstacles isn’t just about overcoming them; it’s about discovering better ways to build for the future.
Looking ahead, I believe that the future of dense urban living will be shaped by modular, decorative design solutions. As property prices and construction costs continue to rise, and with the rapid advancement of AI technology, the way we approach residential spaces is bound to shift.Luxury and bespoke design, I predict, will increasingly find their home in the entertainment and hospitality sectors—spaces where experience and wow-factor are paramount. Meanwhile, our everyday living environments will embrace a more streamlined, simplistic aesthetic. Modular systems and prefabricated elements will offer flexibility and efficiency, making high-quality design more accessible and better suited to the fast-paced demands of city life.In this new era, home design will prioritize smart solutions and understated elegance—creating spaces that are practical, adaptable, and beautifully uncomplicated.
Redefining Luxury: Sustainability at the Heart of DesignLuxury design, in my view, is not simply a matter of lavish spending. True luxury lies in thoughtful choices—selecting the right materials, minimizing waste, and prioritizing ethical, environmentally friendly, and long-lasting products. By embracing these principles, designers can help pave the way toward truly sustainable living.A compelling example of this philosophy in action comes from California, where wildfires have become an all-too-common threat. Architect Michael Kovac and his wife, Dr. Karina Maher, designed their home with both sustainability and wildfire resilience at its core. By carefully considering materials and construction methods, they created a sanctuary that not only stands up to environmental challenges but also treads lightly on the planet.Their approach is a powerful reminder: luxury and sustainability are not mutually exclusive. When design is guided by conscience as well as creativity, we can build spaces that are both beautiful and responsible—setting a new standard for what it means to live well. Nature is the new luxury.
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