Interview about The Sequence in Grating Residential House, winner of the A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award 2025
The design aims to establish order within a disordered space. By incorporating a combination of virtual and physical spatial divisions and utilizing standardized translucent decorative materials, the interaction between natural and artificial light creates a dynamic visual effect. Over time, the space serves as a medium that reflects the passage of time. Additionally, a tone on tone color scheme, integrated with a carefully planned lighting arrangement and the owner's collection, enhances the artistic quality of the interior.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsEvolution of Light Diffraction Concept in The Sequence in GratingThe Sequence in Grating Residential House began with a fascination for diffraction as the “fourth way” light travels—beyond straight lines, refraction, and reflection. Inspired by Francesco Grimaldi’s observation that light can diffract through periodic structures, the design team set out to let light itself shape and narrate the interior space.1. Conceptual InspirationEarly design charrettes revolved around the idea of finding order within a disordered footprint by using light as both medium and message. Framing the home as a living “carrier” that records time through shifting illumination, the team envisioned a series of layered screens and voids. This conceptual seed aimed to let natural and artificial sources weave together, producing ever-changing optical phenomena reminiscent of grating diffraction.2. Early Spatial StrategiesTo maximize light interplay, the architects:- Removed non-essential partitions to open up the living area, increasing daylight penetration.- Introduced “virtual” facades—translucent partitions that sit in front of solid walls—so sunbeams and luminaires would cast shifting shadows.- Established a tone-on-tone color scheme, unifying surfaces so patterns of light and shadow become the primary visual interest.3. Material & Fixture ExperimentsIterative prototyping in the studio tested how different assemblies diffract and diffuse light across the day:- Irregular wood veneer facade divisions that break up incoming beams.- Wooden grille cabinet doors over backlit cavities.- Aluminum extruded light bars installed behind grilles to generate alternating bands of brightness.- A pendant “island chandelier” composed of glass modules sequenced like a diffraction grating.- Hunter Douglas Luminette® Shades silk curtains arranged in regular folds.- Strategic removal of one bedroom to enlarge the core living zone and amplify light-and-shadow dynamics.- Selection of timeless materials—stone and metal—that serve as stable canvases for ephemeral light effects.4. Final Implementation and Spatial ExperienceIn the completed home, daylight filters through layered screens and grilles, producing fine, lace-like shadows that shift as the sun travels. After dusk, concealed LEDs behind extruded bars and glass pendants recreate these diffraction patterns, extending the poetic dialogue between light and form. The consistent white-and-tone color palette ensures that material textures and the owner’s art collection are subtly animated by these luminous sequences.
Inspiration: Grating Diffraction ReimaginedThe wooden grille began as a literal translation of an optical diffraction grating—slender slits that fragment and choreograph light. By echoing Francesco Grimaldi’s “fourth way” of light travel, these fine wooden strips become active participants in the spatial narrative, casting lace-like shadows that shift with the sun and concealed LEDs.Crafting the Wooden Grille: Precision in Profile and Hue- 10 × 10 mm ProfileMirrors the narrow slits of a diffraction grating, offering tight control over light passage and shadow banding.- Water-Dyed VeneerInfuses each strip with consistent, saturated tones that celebrate natural wood grain without overpowering the tone-on-tone palette.- Modular AssemblyUniform dimensions simplify off-site fabrication and on-site installation, ensuring precise tolerances and minimal waste.Together, these meticulously crafted grilles transform light into a living diary—each beam and shadow recording moments of the day, while the water-dyed surfaces add depth and warmth, knitting functional precision with poetic atmosphere.
Pantheon’s Light and Temporal Spatial ExperienceThe Pantheon’s oculus floods its vast rotunda with a single, focused beam of sunlight that traverses the interior throughout the day and seasons. This dramatic illumination not only reveals the dome’s form but also embeds the passage of time into the spatial narrative.Ando’s Precision Apertures and Concrete LightTadao Ando sculpts natural light as though it were a material, cutting narrow apertures, deep reveals, and clerestories into heavy concrete walls. These carefully calibrated openings create stark contrasts of light and shadow, animating surfaces and guiding movement through each space.Translating Precedents into Grating DiffractionDrawing from these precedents, The Sequence in Grating uses a field of 10 × 10 mm wooden strips arranged like an optical diffraction grating. This system fragments incoming daylight much like the Pantheon’s singular oculus beam while echoing Ando’s precision apertures through modular, semi-transparent screens that merge virtual and solid facades.A Contemporary Diary of LightBy integrating irregular wood veneer divisions, aluminum extruded light bars behind grille doors, and tone-on-tone surfaces, the design choreographs both natural and artificial light into an ever-shifting “diary.” Each flicker of shadow and glow of LED extends the poetic dialogue between time, material, and memory, letting light itself compose the interior’s story.
Embracing Light as Spatial “Paper”The design team treated light’s movement through the home like writing a diary: the larger the “page,” the richer the story. Early on, they realized that existing partitions fragmented daylight too much, limiting the play of grating diffraction patterns on walls and floors. To give light a continuous canvas, they decided to remove a relatively underused room, effectively enlarging the living area and maximizing the reach of both natural and artificial illumination.Thought Process Behind the Reconfiguration- Prioritizing Light NarrativesBy collapsing virtual and solid facades around the deleted room, the architects created an uninterrupted field for drifting shadows and beams—amplifying the core concept of diffraction-based storytelling.- Function Over FormalityThe sacrificed room held little programmatic weight (a small guest or storage space), so its removal had minimal impact on essential functions but outsized impact on spatial quality.- Seamless Structural IntegrationWalls were recalibrated along the established rhythm of 10 × 10 mm grilles, ensuring the new opening honored the modular grid and preserved the home’s visual harmony.Impact on Family Dynamics- Expanded Communal ZoneWith a larger living area, family members naturally gravitate to a single, generous gathering space—encouraging more frequent interactions, shared activities, and storytelling under the ever-changing light.- Enhanced Visual ConnectivityRemoving barriers not only invites light deeper into the plan but also strengthens sightlines between seating, play, and study areas, fostering a sense of togetherness.By daring to erase a room, the project transforms light into a central design driver—both enriching the poetic dialogue of grating diffraction and knitting the household closer together through a luminous, shared living canvas.
Material Selection & Arrangement for Dynamic Light InteractionCreating a living “diary” of shifting illumination required choosing materials that both diffuse and animate sunlight. The strategy hinged on standardized, repeatable elements—each selected for its optical properties and ease of modular assembly.Key Translucent Materials- Wooden grille panels with 10 × 10 mm strips and water-dyed veneer- Silk curtains (Hunter Douglas Luminette® Shades) in regular folds- Glass modules sequenced into an island chandelier- Aluminum extruded light bars set behind grille doorsArrangement Strategies- Aligning grilles and light bars on a strict modular grid to ensure consistent diffraction patterns- Sequencing silk curtains in parallel runs to catch low-angle morning light and soften high-sun glare- Placing glass modules at different heights so sunbeams fracture through varied angles, creating prismatic highlights- Interleaving virtual (curtains, light bars) and solid (wood veneer) facades for layered shadow playArtificial Light IntegrationBy mirroring the daytime layout—LED strips behind grilles, pendant lights in glass modules, uplighting behind curtains—the same diffraction and diffusion effects replay at night. This continuity ensures the home remains an ever-evolving stage of light and shadow, from dawn through dusk to after dark.The meticulous selection and placement of these translucent systems transform changing sunlight into architectural storytelling—recording each hour’s mood in wood, fabric, and glass.
The tone-on-tone color scheme in The Sequence in Grating Residential House was carefully curated to serve as both a neutral canvas and a luminous amplifier—enhancing the architectural elements while allowing the owner’s art collection to take center stage.What Is “Tone-on-Tone”?In design, tone-on-tone refers to using variations of the same hue—different shades, tints, or saturations of a single color family. This approach creates depth and texture without introducing visual noise, making it ideal for spaces that need to feel both calm and expressive.Design Intent: A Living GalleryThe architects approached the home as a spatial diary, where light, shadow, and materiality record the passage of time. To support this narrative:- Walls, ceilings, and cabinetry were finished in subtle gradations of whites, beiges, and warm greys.- Wooden grilles and water-dyed veneers added warmth and rhythm without overwhelming the visual field.- Lighting and translucent materials were layered to animate the surfaces throughout the day.This restrained palette ensured that the owner’s art collection—likely rich in color, texture, and form—could breathe within the space, standing out against a harmonious backdrop.Result: A Poetic CoexistenceThe result is a home that feels serene yet expressive, where the architecture doesn’t compete with the artwork but rather elevates it through contrast, clarity, and light. The tone-on-tone palette becomes a quiet stage—one that shifts subtly with the day’s light and the viewer’s movement.
The idea of space as a carrier recording the mark of time in The Sequence in Grating Residential House is not just poetic—it’s deeply embedded in the project’s spatial logic, material choices, and lighting choreography. The design transforms the home into a living diary, where light becomes the ink and architecture the page.Temporal Narrative Through Design Elements1. Grating Diffraction as a Conceptual FrameworkInspired by Francesco Grimaldi’s notion that light can travel through diffraction, the design uses this phenomenon to visualize time. As light filters through layered materials, it creates shifting patterns that evolve throughout the day—marking time like a sundial in motion.2. Virtual and Solid FacadesThe interplay between translucent and opaque surfaces—such as wooden grilles, silk curtains, and glass modules—creates a dynamic canvas for light and shadow. These layers allow natural and artificial light to interact in ways that change hourly and seasonally, embedding the passage of time into the spatial experience.3. Removal of a Room to Expand the “Page”To amplify the light’s reach and narrative potential, the designers removed a relatively unimportant room. This bold move enlarged the living space, allowing more sunlight to enter and creating a broader surface for light to “write” upon. It also fostered greater family interaction, reinforcing the idea that time is not just visual but social.4. Sequenced Materials and Fixtures- Irregular wood veneer divisions and wooden grille cabinet doors fragment light into fine, lace-like shadows.- Aluminum extruded light bars behind grilles create layered illumination at night, continuing the temporal story after sunset.- Glass pendant modules and Hunter Douglas Luminette® Shades further modulate light, casting prismatic or diffused effects depending on the time of day.5. Tone-on-Tone Palette as a Neutral CanvasThe restrained color scheme ensures that light and shadow—not pigment—become the primary visual actors. This allows the space to shift subtly with time, while also highlighting the owner’s art collection as part of the evolving narrative.
The integration of Hunter Douglas Luminette® Shades and custom lighting in The Sequence in Grating Residential House was a masterclass in orchestrating light as both a functional necessity and an artistic medium. These elements were not simply layered for effect—they were sequenced like instruments in a symphony, each contributing to a spatial narrative that evolves throughout the day.Hunter Douglas Luminette® Shades: Diffusion with PrecisionThese silk-like vertical sheers were chosen for their ability to:- Diffuse harsh daylight while maintaining a soft, ambient glow- Respond to changing sun angles, filtering light in a way that mimics natural atmospheric shifts- Introduce rhythmic folds that echo the architectural grid, reinforcing the home’s modular languagePlaced in the living room in a regular sequence, the shades act as a translucent veil—softening incoming light and casting gentle, linear shadows that animate the tone-on-tone surfaces.Custom Lighting: Extending the Narrative into NightTo complement the natural light effects, the design team embedded custom lighting into architectural elements:- Aluminum extruded light bars were installed behind wooden grille cabinet doors, creating a layered interplay of light and shadow even after sunset- A glass island chandelier in the dining area was composed of regularly sequenced modules, refracting artificial light like a diffraction grating—mirroring the behavior of sunlight during the day- Indirect lighting was integrated into ceiling trusses and behind curtains to simulate the soft glow of dawn or duskOrchestration StrategyThe key was sequencing—not just layering. Each material and fixture was placed in alignment with the home’s modular grid, ensuring that light (natural or artificial) would interact predictably and poetically with surfaces. This allowed the space to function beautifully by day and transform into a luminous sculpture by night.
The use of stone and metal in The Sequence in Grating Residential House is a deliberate material strategy that supports the project’s core vision: space as a carrier of time. These materials were chosen not only for their durability and elegance, but for their ability to record, reflect, and respond to light—the central medium through which the home expresses the passage of time.Stone: A Timeless Canvas for Light and Shadow- Natural texture and grain in stone surfaces subtly reveal the angle and intensity of light throughout the day.- Its inherent permanence contrasts with the ephemeral nature of light, grounding the space while allowing illumination to “write” across its surface.- Stone’s cool, matte finish enhances the tone-on-tone palette, offering a quiet backdrop that doesn’t compete with the owner’s art collection.“We try to show the texture of the material itself… stone and metal are more timeless materials than natural wood veneer.” — Project StatementMetal: Reflective Precision and Structural Clarity- Aluminum extruded light bars and stainless-steel mesh are used to modulate artificial light, creating layered shadows and reflections that evolve with time.- Metal’s reflectivity allows it to bounce light deeper into the space, extending the reach of both natural and artificial sources.- Its clean lines and modularity reinforce the architectural rhythm, echoing the project’s conceptual foundation in diffraction and sequence.Together, these materials act as silent narrators—their surfaces changing subtly with each hour, season, and source of illumination. They embody the project’s poetic ambition: to make time visible through architecture.
The Sequence in Grating Residential House, awarded the 2025 Bronze A' Design Award in Interior Space and Exhibition Design, is poised to influence the future of residential interiors by redefining how light manipulation, spatial sequencing, and material restraint can create emotionally resonant, time-sensitive environments.Projected Influence on Future Residential Design1. Light as a Spatial Medium, Not Just IlluminationThis project elevates light from a utility to a narrative device. By using standardized translucent materials—wooden grilles, silk curtains, and glass modules—it demonstrates how homes can become living diaries, recording the passage of time through shifting shadows and reflections.Future impact:Designers may increasingly treat daylight and artificial light as compositional tools, integrating them into the architectural rhythm to evoke mood, memory, and ritual.2. Spatial Sequence as Psychological JourneyThe home’s layout—especially the removal of a room to expand the living area—prioritizes experiential flow over rigid programmatic zoning. The sequence of spaces is choreographed to guide the body and eye through a temporal and emotional arc.Future impact:Expect more residential interiors to adopt ritual-based planning, where movement, light, and material transitions are designed to support mindfulness, family interaction, and sensory awareness.3. Tone-on-Tone Minimalism with Emotional DepthRather than stark minimalism, the project uses a tone-on-tone palette to create a calm, luminous backdrop that enhances both architectural detail and the owner’s art collection. This approach balances restraint with richness.Future impact:Designers may embrace quiet materiality—stone, metal, wood, and fabric in subtle hues—to create interiors that are timeless, adaptable, and emotionally grounded.4. Hybrid Craftsmanship and ModularityThe project’s use of 10 × 10 mm wooden grilles, extruded aluminum light bars, and prefabricated elements shows how precision detailing and modular thinking can coexist.Future impact:We may see a rise in prefabricated artisanal components—elements that are mass-customized to bring warmth, texture, and narrative into fast-paced construction timelines.This project doesn’t just reflect current trends—it sets a new benchmark for how residential interiors can be poetic, precise, and profoundly human.
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