A New Spin on Feng Shui

Based on the Feng Shui principles of Yin (private and closed) and Yang (public and open), Feng Shui expert Liu Ming was looking for a balance between his personal and professional life in his 1,100 square-foot live/work loft in Oakland, California. Ming was in desperate need of more space for his growing Feng Shui classes. He was often forced to move around his desk, closets and other hefty personal furniture to accommodate over 30 students. That's when he hired architect Toshi Kasai, owner of the architecture and design firm Spaceflavor, to help him. Mr. Kasai solved this dilemma by designing The Cube, a compact mobile dwelling unit that allows Mr. Ming to freely reconfigure the loft so he could teach his popular classes while honoring his personal realm. The structure provides him with the sense of coziness he was in search of and allows him to keep his personal activities of study, sleep, and meditation to a compact, eight-foot cube.

Responding to Mr. Ming’s preference for zen-modernism, the Cube was designed with simplicity, efficiency and a sense of discovery. Translucent roller shades, a shoji screen and frosted acrylic panels allow daylight to filter through the Cube, while responding to varying needs for privacy. At night the Cube illuminates like a lantern, casting playful shadows on the glowing screens.

His study and the bedroom are placed at opposite corners to create a sense of movement, emulating the flow of active Yang and passive Yin elements. Secluded from the activities below, the meditation/tea ceremony loft is accessed by the concealed stairs.

The stairs and cabinet doors, including a stair slipper-drawer, are concealed, subtly hinting at the openings. He decided to use Ash plywood panels for their unique grain patterns that resemble Chinese ink landscape paintings and to complement the tatami mats. It's really amazing how Mr. Kasai was able to solve a very common challenge people who live and work in the same space confront, yet keeping Mr. Ming's Feng Shui priciples in place.

Images © Jasmine Rose Oberste, last image by Joe Fletcher, via The New York Times

Comments

[Eva @ Four Leaf Clover]

That office space is really great and looks surprisingly comfortable.

[four leaf clover]

a sort of minimalist zen... this is pretty cool idea for college kids .. .or prisoners.

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