Title: 5 STEPS HOUSE
Designed by: mou architecture studio
Architect: Zhuang Wu
Project team: Shiyu Fu
Location: Changzhou, China
Usage: Private house
Building area: 25 ㎡
Completion: 2023
Main Material: Pine plywood, Stainless steel, Brick
Photographer: Zhuang Wu
This is the second home of the commissioner, where she comes by herself or with friends in her leisure time, enjoying solitude and feeling at ease and serenity.
The depth of the house is about 8.3m, the face width is 3m, and the floor height is only 3.4m. We propose the concept of "staircase gorges", in which the indoor floor is divided into 5 different terrain heights according to the level and functional attributes in only 25m² rectangular box, and each terrain height corresponds to the corresponding function.The entrance hall is the first terrain height, which serves as a dust fall area and solves the problem of entry storage at the same time; the kitchen and the bathroom are juxtaposed on both sides of the aisle located in the second terrain height; the washing machine, refrigerator, clothes storage, and work desk are located in the third terrain height; the fourth terrain height is the living area, which has the best lighting and view; the sleeping area is the most private, and it is also located in the highest place as the fifth terrain height.
Entering through the entrance, the aisles are narrow, with towering functional furniture rising upright on either side, making it feel as if you are entering gorge. The further in you go, the closer you get to the bright section, the closer the space feels to the outside, and the experience extends to the outdoors. Coming home is a hiking journey, and when all the features fall into place, a narrow gorge forms in the middle, with the end of the gorge being open and bright. Whilst each step is given a different function, these spaces are tightly linked through an open plan with staggered heights. This setup increases the usable area and counteracts the negative atmosphere of being small and confined. In addition, the natural wood texture and large open windows bring air and sunlight into the interior, creating good ventilation and lighting, and creating a comfortable indoor physical environment. We wanted to create a rich experience of indoor mountain living in the city that goes beyond mere functional suitability.
We integrated all the functions into one big room, not so much a 25 square metre home, but a huge piece of interior furniture, from the floor, to the sitting area, to the table, to the cabinets, to the bed, to the ceiling. We wanted it to be an open and mobile social space in addition to its residential function, responding to the homeowner's desire for a second home.