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A compact 40 sq.wah (160 sq.m.) site accommodates the needs of a mid-sized family of four, requiring a full range of functional spaces. Beyond basic living areas, each family member has specific desires: the father seeks a cozy spot to relax and host friends without disturbing the main living area; the mother dreams ofa garden and plant nursery; and the children require space for playful activities, both indoors and outdoors. Inspired by their previous single-story home, where a central living room connected all areas, the family prioritizes interconnected spaces. All these goals must align with their constrained budget.

The team began by questioning how to merge or subtract spaces to optimize functionality within the site’s limitations. This process involved analyzing the house’s layout and asking, “Which areas can be combined or reimagined to create adaptable, multifunctional uses?”
- Blending Indoor and Outdoor Spaces
The mother’s garden, traditionally confined to outdoor use and impractical during the rainy season, was integrated with the hallway and staircase. This created a transitional zone between the exterior and interior—a hybrid space that can open to the outdoors as a garden or close to become a sheltered indoor sitting area, maximizing its utility year-round.
- Subtracting Redundant Spaces
Circulation paths between the living room, dining area, and kitchen were minimized. The dining area now directly bridges the living room and kitchen, while the balcony was removed to repurpose its space for central circulation. This adjustment expanded the living room and connected it seamlessly to the mother’s garden (now part of the indoor-outdoor hybrid space).
- Circulation as a Connective Tool to Facilitate Activity
The staircase, linking both floors, was strategically designed with landings that encourage spontaneous activity. Its placement enhances accessibility and provide seamless connections throughout the house, strengthening the family’s desire for spatial harmony.

Through these steps, the house emerged as a cohesive structure centered around unnamed “hybrid spaces” that straddle the interior and exterior. These spaces serve as primary circulation hubs, activity areas, and transitional buffers between indoors and outdoors, capable of welcoming refreshing breezes on sunny days or closing to shield against inclement weather.

With the spatial layout finalized, material selection prioritized simplicity and flexibility. A warm tonal palette of light and dark browns complements the central courtyard’s greenery, ensuring future plant growth becomes the visual focal point.

Designing a compact home to meet a family’s diverse needs goes beyond efficient space allocationIt requires balancing practicality with aesthetics of living. By interweaving shared spaces that bridge indoors and outdoors, and fostering family interaction through layered activities, this house achieves harmony—both functionally and emotionally—creating a joyful, adaptable living environment for all.

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