For this small renovation project, our client sought to convert a spare room in her house into a guest suite for visiting relatives and friends from overseas. Given the infrequency of these visits, we proposed a design that maximizes the room's year-round utility, benefiting both guests and homeowners. This design creates a multi-functional catch-all space by incorporating functions currently missing or lacking in the house.
To comfortably accommodate up to two adults and two young children in a 30 sq.m. room with a 3.30 m high ceiling, we introduced a raised platform as the central point of activities. Covered with soft artisan reed mats, this platform serves various purposes, including a spacious seating surface, hidden storage for bulky items like suitcases, and a sleeping area that fits up to four fold-away twin-size futons. It also features two hydraulic tables that can pop up from underneath, opening up more ways to utilize the room.
In addition to serving as a guest suite, the room also functions as a playroom, equipped with an erasable board, a writing desk, a bench, and a bookcase. Acoustic absorbers and diffusers are integrated into the design to ensure a comfortable environment when fully occupied. The high ceiling also allows plenty of overhead storage for rarely used and seasonal items such as winter coats and gear.
