RAINNA’S HOME

Project：RAINNA’S HOME
Design：KINJO DESIGN
Area：150㎡

Background

The homeowners, a couple on the verge of retirement, are both university foreign language professors. With their free-spirited and romantic personalities, coupled with their experiences of living abroad, they embrace a world rich in culture and art. As this space is envisioned as their future retirement home, we aimed to create an elegant lifestyle, treating the residence as an aesthetic journey through time. Through everyday landscapes, we celebrate the passage of time.

Landscape is a form of perception—an inward exploration, a search for the inner scenery, and the establishment of a harmonious scale with the spirit. It is also about mutual recognition and companionship, where each becomes the other's landscape. We sought to create a shared sense of perception and care, balancing moments of solitude with opportunities for dialogue. Looking to the future while responding to the present, nature, love, and beauty reside here, as does the heart.

Design Concept

The original space was a traditional and confined four-room layout, with rooms symmetrically arranged along a central corridor and the master bedroom tucked away at the far end. This conservative structure limited the potential of the space. By removing rigid partitions, breaking down enclosed areas, and dissolving transitional spaces, we reorganized the layout into four elongated core zones, emphasizing a continuous and indirect spatial experience.

Guided by axial relationships, we extended and blended the space along both east-west and north-south orientations—creating a horizontal spatial span and a deep, layered visual perspective. This approach maximizes the spatial scale and redefines the state of the space. Through thoughtful spatial arrangement and functional zoning, we formed a progressive flow, seamlessly integrating east and west, and crafting a dynamic, interconnected environment.

A Dialogue with Nature: Framed by the Canopy

On the sixth floor, the windows open to the lush canopy of kapok trees, where nature becomes the most profound expression of the space. We captured this connection by creating a visual portal that draws the eye from the entrance directly toward the natural world outside. The expansive window frames a silent yet moving tableau of nature, shaping an introspective and serene interior that resonates with life.

From the entry perspective, the space is intentionally compressed by the flanking walls, guiding the gaze toward the central axis where the kitchen island and dining table merge into a unified, elongated form that stretches toward the view. The dark-toned cabinetry extends seamlessly, creating a striking interplay of light and shadow, solid and void, while amplifying the scale of the landscape beyond. This deliberate contrast pushes the scenery to its most dramatic effect—infinitely profound, drawing the eye and the soul deeper into the space.

As the seasons shift, the blooming and fading of flowers outside mirror the rhythm of life within, crafting a heartfelt journey of returning home. Here, nature is not just a backdrop but an ever-changing companion, inviting moments of reflection and connection.

A Journey of Transition: From Intimacy to Expansion

Upon entering, the space initially feels restrained, but as one moves toward the dining area and kitchen island, it opens up to reveal a bright, new order. Anchored by a horizontal axis, the western kitchen, living room, and multi-functional study are seamlessly connected, creating a continuous flow. From the kitchen island, the gaze extends directly into the multi-functional room, emphasizing both depth and transparency. This functional and formal linkage crafts a sense of transition within the open-plan layout, balancing intimacy and expansiveness.

The living room, formed by merging two original rooms, dissolves the constraints of a traditional corridor. Guided by the rhythm of natural light, a long window and a strategically placed Cassina sofa extend along the horizontal axis, creating an east-west spatial connection.
Light, following this horizontal sequence, breathes vitality into the environment, enhancing the space’s inherent quality. The ceiling design and the unit-woven Cassina carpet echo each other in a three-dimensional grid, highlighting a clean, geometric structure. This layered transparency establishes a contemporary lifestyle statement—bright, balanced, and timeless.

Wood serves as the perfect backdrop for a dialogue between aesthetic style and functional form. The Vitra Noguchi triangular sculptural coffee table, paired with Zanotta’s Maggiolina lounge chair, and &Tradition’s Lato marble side table alongside Santa & Cole’s TMM floor lamp, blend Eastern and Western influences. This fusion creates an organic balance between classical and modern, simplicity and warmth, embodying a timeless aesthetic that transcends cultural boundaries and endures through the ages.

The space employs varying degrees of openness to maximize natural light and ventilation, achieving optimal living conditions. Simultaneously, this flexible and organic spatial relationship shapes the structural form of the interior. The geometric design of the TV wall visualizes the flow of movement through the space—evoking a sense of natural erosion and material transformation, where time feels fluid and ever-present.

The Connecting Zone: A Luxurious Spatial Experience

The array of off-axis doors creates a subtle transition between the bedroom and the living room, emphasizing linear continuity. Through the interplay of light and shadow and the linear perspective, the bedroom naturally recedes from the living room’s view, maintaining a sense of privacy. Conversely, when in the bedroom, one is enveloped by the living room’s bright and open atmosphere, fostering a harmonious connection between the two spaces.

Centered around the master bedroom, the overall layout combines dynamic and static elements with a transparent, open scale, forming an exclusive and sophisticated residential format of a "front hall + side hall" (open living room + multi-functional study). This layout emphasizes a tailored, luxurious living experience. The curtains behind the off-axis doors allow for seamless switching between private and open states, adapting to different needs and moments.

Within this spatial relationship, the master bedroom embodies an infinitely expansive state, balancing movement and stillness, day and night. In the context of a couple’s living space, this equilibrium between interior and exterior highlights the authentic and elegant spirit of the design.

The Audo Androgyne side table and AUDO Torso table lamp, paired with abstract artwork and an &Tradition rug, are symmetrically arranged. In their artistic tones, materials, and textures, they evoke a yin-yang duality—softness and solemnity intertwined—creating a serene, natural order. This arrangement exudes a timeless, classic paradigm, symbolizing the essence of the master bedroom.

Based on the new spatial relationships, the two symmetrical vertical north-facing windows and the south-facing window establish a direct airflow, enhancing natural ventilation and connecting the space to the rhythms of nature.

The Spirit in Depth: Bedroom and Study in One

The design challenge was to create two bedrooms, one of which would serve as a secondary bedroom for the couple’s child, who visits during winter and summer breaks. This low-frequency yet significant use, combined with the child’s request for only a workspace, led us to prioritize the couple’s daily lifestyle while crafting a space that balances openness and independence. The secondary bedroom transforms into a multi-functional study, seamlessly blending into the home’s daily rhythm without compromising on quality, even for short-term use. This approach reflects the evolving relationship between parents and their child, thoughtfully shaping the space to embody both practicality and emotional resonance.

A String Works wooden desk and a vintage Fritz Hansen office chair are positioned by the window, maintaining a minimalist aesthetic that fosters solitude and focus, while leaving room for the secondary bedroom’s functionality. A whimsical Vitra Noguchi Akari paper lamp adds a touch of warmth and poetic charm, inviting a sense of timelessness into the space.

As the primary multi-functional study, the room serves as a sanctuary for reading and introspection, fostering a dialogue with the depth of the space. When the double sliding wooden doors are opened, the room merges with the open-plan living area, creating a harmonious blend of shared and private living scenarios.

A hidden off-axis door connects the study to the master bedroom, extending the “invisible” format of the walk-in wardrobe. When both doors are closed, the space transforms into an independent private area. A bed concealed within the wall cabinet can be unfolded, and with the addition of an ensuite bathroom, the room shifts from a longitudinal layout focused on the window and desk to a new transverse configuration. This transformation reveals a generous scale comparable to the master bedroom, offering flexibility and elegance in equal measure.

A Harmonious Platform: Blending Function and Aesthetic

Opening toward the living area, the integrated dining island serves as a practical and versatile interface, fostering dynamic daily interactions. On one hand, it meticulously refines the aesthetic scale of everyday life; on the other, it showcases carefully selected objects that create lasting spatial memories, celebrating the beauty of time. A custom stone dining table, paired with &Tradition’s cord-wrapped walnut dining chairs and a suspended Vitra handcrafted pendant lamp, forms an elegant, ceremonial space. As the heart of the home, it is both a scenic focal point and a gathering place, embodying the essence of daily life.

To address the functional and storage needs of the kitchen, the space is divided into three distinct zones: the Chinese kitchen, the Western-style kitchen island, and a small appliance area. This layout achieves a comprehensive, full-scale multi-functionality, expanding the possibilities for diverse usage scenarios.

The double-glazed window in the Chinese kitchen creates a dynamic interplay of views and interactions, opening and closing to frame the scenery and foster emotional connections through lifestyle design. The future living scenarios of the homeowners are seamlessly woven into the spatial scale, resulting in a natural and beautiful intertwining of form and function. Through these everyday emotional touches, the space becomes a heartfelt declaration of life.

A Peaceful Moment: Getting Along with Self

By re-configuring the original kitchen layout, a horizontal corridor space is created to the right of the entryway, serving as a hidden yet convenient pathway for the homeowners. A full-height cabinet system conceals storage, maintaining a clean and minimalist visual aesthetic. This area integrates entryway storage, cleaning, and laundry functions, forming a complete and fluid functional zone that enhances the home’s practicality and elegance.

The south-facing main landscape window and the west-facing side window converge at the entrance, creating a natural overture that flows seamlessly from the outside in and from the inside out. This interplay of views establishes a harmonious connection with nature, setting the tone for the entire space.

Through thoughtful zoning of wet and dry areas, as well as dynamic and static functions, the bathroom is divided into three distinct zones: the shower area, the wash area, and the toilet area. The layout prioritizes privacy, with a carefully planned circulation path that connects the entry corridor to the bedroom, creating a meandering journey that guides the senses inward. This design fosters a deep connection to the tranquil areas of the home, enhancing the sense of retreat and relaxation.

Functionally, the toilet area, as a high-frequency space, is conveniently located near the master bedroom while remaining discreetly hidden from the entryway’s sight-line. The washbasin area, acting as a central hub, features a relaxed scale with a comfortable seating nook. It also serves as a serene, private retreat—offering a peaceful atmosphere for moments of self-care during cleansing or showering.

In the re-imagined layout, the shower area merges with the balcony, taking advantage of the window placement to create a spacious, dual-purpose zone. Bathed in natural light and enveloped in a harmonious palette of soft gray tones, the space becomes a sanctuary of calm and rejuvenation. Whether immersed in the gentle glow of sunlight or simply sitting in quiet contemplation with a subtle ray of light, the space exudes a tender, time-honored quality—a testament to the gentle passage of time.

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The concept of graceful aging unfolds as an exploration of the interplay between time and space. We envision this space as a solid, shared foundation, deeply rooted in an understanding of lifestyle, where the spirit of the space becomes visible, imbued with the power of care and action.

From functional forms to aesthetic spaces, this home is designed to be a sanctuary for daily life, a place that nurtures the soul and establishes an enduring spiritual realm. Rather than crafting an image of fragility that requires protection, we aim to create a space that fosters genuine connections with nature, self, and emotion—an embodiment of beauty and meaning.
Every glance reveals the beauty of nature, while every moment invites an exploration of emotion and care. This is a space where time is honored, where life is celebrated, and where the spirit finds its refuge.