Apartment Liner
Frequently in China, families are relocated from their traditional homes that have flexible spaces to small, concrete slab high rise apartments that have only air and light on one side of the apartment, hence available to only one room. The apartment liner attempts to remedy some of the problems created by these rigid structures.
Firstly, the apartment liner is constructed off site as an interior skin that can be slipped inside the existing concrete shell. This interior or secondary skin is constructed in a way very similar to the way clothes are constructed. It is derived from a flat pattern or template that is then folded up into place. This pattern for an apartment creates intimate spaces through folding and unfolding over time to merge with the evolving needs of a family that starts as two persons, grows and shrinks again.
Scenario 1: Loft like space for young couple
Interior view looking toward kitchen from living area, and view from future master bedroom
Scenario 1: Into an existing Chinese apartment new floors, walls and ceiling are inserted. The new walls, floor and ceiling have embedded in them operable panels that allow for a reconfiguration of the space over time and as the needs of the family changes. In scenario number one the apartment has a loft like configuration and only the profile of the embedded panels is apparent.
Scenario 2: Introduction of child into loft like space
Interior view of kitchen from living room area and bedroom with shelf in lowered position
Scenario 2: Young parents may elect to rotate some of the embedded panels in order to partially divide the open space. The bathroom may be cordoned off from the kitchen by lowering a translucent panel from the ceiling. The removal of the panel from the ceiling exposes the existing concrete structure of the high rise. Similarly, another panel is unfolded from the west wall to separate a bedroom from the the kitchen, this partition has a fold down “shelf” on which a bassinet may be rested. This “shelf” can be stored in the bedroom or in the kitchen.
Scenario 3: Fully enclosed private spaces for young adult and parents
Interior view of kitchen and master bedroom as it is partitioned off from living area
Scenario 3: The child is growing up and the apartment can be further sub-divded by continuing to unfold the panels that are embedded in the new walls. Behind the folded panels not only is the existing structure exposed but also the buildings infrastructure which includes power, data and storage connections and spaces. The further sub-division of the apartment allows for privacy within flexibility.
Project Date: 2004
Project Team: Virginia San Fratello
Additional Project Information: The Apartment Liner was awarded the Silver Prize in the 4th annual Design Between East and West Competition.