Bronze Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2026
Nestack Home Office
by Hang Chen
- A' Design Award 2026 Bronze Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Awarded April 15, 2026
- CLIENT: WE-Me Group of WEM MetaUnion Technology Co.,Ltd.
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 5,850
- Verification code 721CA2FDAD · Verify this award
About Nestack Home Office
Nestack is a contemporary interior project responding to the evolving relationship between work and domestic life. Set within a compact residential structure, the design reorganizes circulation and spatial hierarchy to integrate areas for living and working within a cohesive environment. Layered spatial zones support focus, interaction and rest. Exposed structural elements express efficiency and clarity, while warm natural materials and biophilic elements introduce comfort, calm and everyday wellbeing.
Hang Chen's Nestack Home Office exemplifies contemporary workspace design's evolution toward environments that honor both utilitarian function and aesthetic contemplation, positioning itself within design movements valuing material authenticity, spatial clarity, and the integration of industrial vocabulary with craft refinement, a trajectory evident in recent commercial interior design that draws from Scandinavian minimalism's restrained palettes and honest material expression while incorporating the raw structural honesty characteristic of adaptive reuse projects and urban loft conversions, suggesting affinities with designers who embrace exposed infrastructure as expressive element rather than concealed necessity, transforming mechanical systems and structural elements into compositional features that acknowledge building systems' functional reality while celebrating their visual character. The compositional achievement resides substantially in the sophisticated horizontal stratification organizing the space into parallel zones that guide movement and establish work territories without physical barriers beyond the minimal intervention of furniture placement and material transitions, the designer demonstrating notable restraint by allowing a limited material palette of timber, stone, concrete, and metal to generate spatial richness through textural variation rather than chromatic diversity, the particularly successful passage being the dramatic charcoal stone feature wall whose irregular faceted surface receives carefully calibrated illumination that transforms static material into dynamic visual field where light and shadow perform continuously changing interactions as viewing angles shift and ambient conditions fluctuate throughout the workday, this single element providing focal drama within an otherwise restrained compositional field, demonstrating how strategic investment in one high-impact material gesture can anchor an entire environment and provide memorable character without requiring comprehensive decorative elaboration. Technical facility manifests in the precise integration of lighting systems that layer ambient, task, and accent illumination to create zones of varying luminosity supporting different work modes while avoiding the harsh uniformity of conventional office lighting, the concealed uplighting washing concrete surfaces with gentle glow, focused task fixtures providing concentrated illumination where needed, and the wall-grazing technique articulating stone texture through controlled shadow patterns, this lighting orchestration serving both practical visibility requirements and aesthetic atmosphere creation, evidencing design thinking that refuses to separate functional and experiential considerations, instead proposing that utilitarian systems can simultaneously serve pragmatic needs and contribute to spatial beauty when approached with attention to integration, proportion, and material interaction. The work explores themes of material honesty and enduring value within contemporary workspace contexts, questioning whether professional environments must sacrifice aesthetic contemplation for functional efficiency or whether thoughtfully designed spaces can serve both dimensions through careful attention to proportion, material quality, lighting subtlety, and the fundamental human need for beauty in daily surroundings, the design seemingly proposing that workplaces honoring craft traditions and material authenticity while incorporating contemporary spatial planning and technological infrastructure can provide settings where productive work occurs within environments that feed aesthetic sensibility rather than depleting it through visual monotony or material cheapness, suggesting that investment in enduring materials and careful design consideration represents not luxury but recognition of how physical environments shape human experience and potentially influence work quality, creativity, and wellbeing over extended occupancy periods. The spatial vocabulary references both historical craft workshop traditions where making occurred in settings valuing material quality and tool beauty, and contemporary knowledge work environments requiring flexibility, technology integration, and collaborative possibility, the design negotiating these references by creating individual work enclaves within an open plan, providing focused work territories while maintaining visual and spatial connection across the environment, the modular furniture system allowing reconfiguration as needs evolve while maintaining consistent material language and proportional relationships, this flexibility suggesting design approaches that accommodate contemporary work's fluid nature without resorting to generic neutrality or disposable furnishings, instead proposing that adaptable systems can incorporate material specificity and craft quality when thoughtfully conceived. One might observe how this environment invites consideration of what constitutes appropriate character for contemporary knowledge work settings, whether the restrained material palette and contemplative atmosphere serve creative thinking and focused concentration more effectively than conventional office environments' visual complexity and chromatic variety, and how daily occupation of spaces demonstrating material quality and design consideration might gradually shape occupants' aesthetic sensibilities and expectations for their built environment, the work ultimately extending beyond immediate functional accommodation to propose larger questions about workplace quality, human experience of designed environments, and design's capacity to elevate routine activities through attention to proportion, materiality, lighting, and the choreography of daily movement through thoughtfully conceived space.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Nestack is a hybrid home office interior integrating workspace and residential living within a compact 240 square meter environment. Through layered spatial planning, multifunctional furniture systems and material contrast, the design balances productivity and comfort. The project transforms a constrained residential structure into a flexible live work ecosystem that supports collaboration, creativity and well being.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Total interior area is approximately 240 square meters. Around 75 percent of the space functions as workspace and 25 percent supports residential use. The layout includes reception, open office workspace, meeting room, manager offices, finance office, lounge, kitchen and private bedrooms. Large windows provide natural daylight and landscape views while linear lighting enhances spatial orientation.
- Tags
- Home Office Design, Hybrid Workspace, Live Work Interior, Compact Spatial Design, Adaptive Workplace, Contemporary Interior, Biophilic Office, Work Life Balance
- Production Technology
- The interior combines exposed structural expression with warm natural materials. Key materials include wood grain porcelain tiles, smoked oak grille panels, grey marble patterned sintered stone, black stone surfaces and preserved moss walls. Exposed concrete ceilings express structural clarity while integrated linear lighting guides circulation. Custom cabinetry and multifunctional furniture maximize spatial efficiency and maintain visual continuity.
- Design Challenge
- The main challenge was transforming a residential apartment with multiple structural shear walls into a functional home office environment while maintaining residential comfort. Structural constraints limited openness and circulation. The design addressed this through layered spatial organization, visual continuity and multifunctional furniture systems, creating a cohesive hybrid interior that balances productivity with everyday living.
- Project Duration
- The project started in August 2024 in Jinghong, Yunnan, China and was completed in May 2025. The design transformed a residential apartment into a hybrid home office environment for a creative enterprise, integrating professional workspace and living functions within a compact interior.
- Operation Flow
- The spatial sequence follows a gradient from public workspace to private living areas. Visitors first enter the reception and open office designed for collaboration and productivity. Circulation then leads to semi private meeting and managerial spaces. At the end of the sequence, private living areas provide rest and retreat, allowing smooth transitions between work, communication and everyday living.
- Research
- Type of research: spatial and behavioral design research.
Objective: to explore how compact interiors can support both professional work and residential living.
Methodology: spatial analysis, functional scenario mapping and material experimentation.
Data collection included workflow observation and user behavior studies. Results indicate that layered spatial planning and multifunctional furniture improve efficiency and psychological comfort in hybrid home office environments. - Inspiration
- The project was inspired by the changing relationship between work and life in contemporary society, where professional activities increasingly overlap with domestic environments. Located in Jinghong, Yunnan, the design responds to a compact apartment constrained by multiple structural shear walls. Instead of separating living and working, the project explores a hybrid spatial model that supports focused work, collaboration and everyday living within a single interior ecosystem.
- Image Credits
- Main Image: Hang Chen, Nestack, 2025.
Optional Image #1: Hang Chen, Nestack, 2025.
Optional Image #2: Hang Chen, Nestack, 2025.
Optional Image #3: Hang Chen, Nestack, 2025.
Optional Image #4: Hang Chen, Nestack, 2025. - Patents
- Copyrights belong to Hang Chen, 2025.
Colors of Nestack Home Office
Grand Interview about Nestack Home Office
What I am most proud of is that Nestack does not simply combine a home and an office within the same floor plan—it redefines the relationship between them. Instead of treating living and working as two independent functions separated by walls, I designed the space as a continuous sequence that responds to the different emotional and behavioral states people experience throughout the day. The transition from the collaborative reception and open office, to quieter meeting areas, and finally to the private residential zone allows users to move naturally between concentration, communication, and rest without feeling that they are entering two completely different environments.Receiving the Bronze A' Design Award is especially meaningful because it recognizes not only the aesthetic qualities of the project but also the underlying design philosophy. Contemporary cities are becoming denser, lifestyles are becoming more flexible, and the boundaries between work and life are increasingly fluid. I believe interior design should not merely accommodate this change, but actively improve it. Rather than asking people to adapt to space, we should design spaces that adapt to people—their routines, emotions, and evolving ways of living and working. For me, Nestack represents a prototype for this future: a human-centered live-work ecosystem where productivity, wellbeing, and everyday life are thoughtfully integrated into a single, coherent spatial experience.
I believe the future of work-life balance is not about creating a strict separation between work and home, but about designing meaningful transitions between different states of mind. In Nestack, the spatial sequence was conceived as a gradual journey rather than a collection of independent rooms. The reception and open office at the entrance encourage communication, creativity, and collaboration. As one moves deeper into the interior, the spaces become progressively quieter and more private, passing through meeting rooms and managerial offices before arriving at the residential area designed for relaxation and personal life.This layered organization reflects the natural rhythm of a working day. People rarely switch instantly from professional focus to personal relaxation; instead, they transition through different levels of interaction, concentration, and privacy. By using spatial depth, material changes, lighting, and circulation to support these transitions, the design creates an environment that responds to both functional and psychological needs.More importantly, I wanted to challenge the conventional idea that productivity and wellbeing require separate environments. In compact urban settings, where space is increasingly limited, architecture should enable multiple aspects of daily life to coexist without conflict. For me, the value of Nestack lies in demonstrating that a carefully choreographed spatial sequence can support work, communication, rest, and family life within one coherent environment, allowing people to experience a healthier and more sustainable relationship between their professional responsibilities and their personal wellbeing.
The design process began with understanding people rather than drawing spaces. Before developing the layout, I analyzed the daily workflow of the users, observing how they welcomed visitors, collaborated with colleagues, held meetings, completed focused work, took breaks, and eventually transitioned into private family life. Through functional scenario mapping, these activities were organized according to their frequency, privacy requirements, and relationships with one another. This research became the foundation for the project's layered spatial organization.The findings revealed that the greatest challenge was not accommodating multiple functions, but reducing interference between them. This led to a clear spatial hierarchy: the most public and interactive functions, such as the reception and open office, are located near the entrance; semi-private meeting and managerial spaces occupy the middle zone; while the residential quarters are positioned at the deepest and quietest part of the interior. Rather than relying on physical separation alone, the design uses circulation, visual continuity, material transitions, and lighting to create gradual shifts between different modes of activity, allowing work and living to coexist naturally within a compact footprint.I believe this evidence-based methodology has broader relevance for contemporary cities. As urban density increases and hybrid working becomes more common, designers can no longer rely on standardized office or residential models. Instead, spaces should be shaped by carefully understanding human behavior and daily routines. In this sense, Nestack demonstrates that compact interiors can support a rich spectrum of activities when design decisions are informed by research rather than assumptions. Ultimately, adaptive workplace design is not about fitting more functions into less space—it is about creating environments that respond intelligently to the way people actually live and work.
Nestack challenges the conventional belief that a professional workplace must occupy a dedicated office building or a large floor area to function effectively. I believe the quality of a workspace is determined less by its size than by the intelligence of its spatial organization. Within just 240 square meters, the project accommodates reception, collaborative workspaces, meeting rooms, managerial offices, support spaces, and private living quarters without compromising either operational efficiency or residential comfort. The key was not to maximize the amount of space, but to maximize the performance of every square meter.Rather than treating the home and the office as competing programs, I approached them as complementary layers within a single spatial ecosystem. Through a carefully organized sequence of public, semi-private, and private zones, multifunctional furniture, integrated storage, and a consistent architectural language, each area supports its own activities while remaining connected to the overall environment. This approach allows users to move naturally between collaboration, focused work, informal communication, and personal life, creating a workplace that feels both efficient and humane.For clients and communities facing increasing urban density and rising real estate costs, I hope Nestack communicates an optimistic message: spatial limitations do not have to limit quality. Thoughtful design can transform compact interiors into highly adaptable environments that support evolving lifestyles and working patterns. More importantly, the project suggests that the future of workplace design lies not in building larger spaces, but in creating smarter, more flexible environments that place human experience, wellbeing, and adaptability at the center of the design process.
The defining moment came when I realized that the structural shear walls, which initially appeared to be the project's greatest limitation, could become its strongest organizing principle. My first instinct was to explore ways of maximizing openness, but after studying the existing structure more carefully, I understood that forcing a conventional open-plan office into the apartment would create awkward circulation and diminish the residential quality of the space. At that point, I shifted my thinking from removing constraints to designing with them.Instead of treating the shear walls as obstacles, I used them to establish a layered spatial framework. They naturally divided the interior into zones with different degrees of privacy, allowing public functions such as reception and collaborative workspaces to occupy the front of the apartment, semi-private meeting and managerial areas to form the middle layer, and the living quarters to remain protected at the rear. Custom cabinetry, multifunctional furniture, and integrated lighting were then designed around these structural elements, allowing them to become part of the architectural composition rather than something to conceal.This experience reinforced an important lesson that continues to influence my work today. In architecture and interior design, constraints often reveal opportunities that unlimited freedom cannot. Existing structures contain their own logic, and when designers choose to understand that logic instead of resisting it, more authentic and enduring solutions emerge. Nestack taught me that creativity is not about eliminating limitations, but about transforming them into qualities that define the identity and character of a place.
The material language of Nestack was developed around one central idea: creating an environment that could support both professional focus and everyday living without feeling like either a conventional office or a typical home. Rather than selecting materials for their visual qualities alone, I considered how they would influence people's emotions, behavior, and perception throughout the day. Every material was chosen to contribute to a balanced atmosphere where productivity and wellbeing could coexist naturally.Warm materials such as wood-grain porcelain tiles and smoked oak grille panels introduce a sense of familiarity and comfort, softening the psychological intensity often associated with work environments. In contrast, grey marble-patterned sintered stone, black stone surfaces, and exposed concrete ceilings provide a sense of clarity, permanence, and professionalism, reflecting the precision and efficiency expected in a creative workplace. The dialogue between warm and cool, natural and industrial, creates visual depth while helping users intuitively distinguish different functional zones without relying on excessive physical partitions.The moss walls play a particularly meaningful role in this composition. Beyond introducing a biophilic element, they provide a continuous visual connection to nature that softens the interior and offers moments of mental restoration during the working day. Combined with abundant natural daylight and carefully integrated linear lighting, the materials create an environment that changes subtly over time, making the space feel dynamic yet calm.Ultimately, I believe materials should communicate more than style—they should shape experience. In Nestack, they help define atmosphere, improve psychological comfort, reinforce spatial hierarchy, and support the daily transitions between collaboration, concentration, relaxation, and home life. When material selection responds to both human perception and functional requirements, the interior becomes not only visually coherent but also emotionally resilient over the long term.
I believe Nestack is not simply a response to a temporary change in working patterns, but part of a broader transformation in the way people inhabit space. As digital technology, flexible employment, and changing lifestyles continue to reshape our cities, the traditional boundary between living and working will become increasingly fluid. Rather than designing spaces around fixed functions, I believe the future of interior design lies in creating environments that support the natural rhythms of everyday life and can adapt as those rhythms evolve.The layered spatial organization explored in Nestack will continue to influence my future work because it demonstrates that privacy, collaboration, concentration, and relaxation do not need to be separated by rigid walls. Instead, they can be orchestrated through carefully considered transitions, spatial depth, material changes, lighting, and circulation. This approach allows spaces to respond to human behavior rather than imposing predetermined patterns of use, making interiors more resilient to changing lifestyles over time.Biophilic design will also remain an essential part of my design philosophy. I do not see natural elements as decorative additions, but as integral components that contribute to psychological wellbeing, environmental quality, and a stronger emotional connection between people and place. Whether through vegetation, natural materials, daylight, ventilation, or visual connections to the surrounding landscape, these elements help create healthier environments that support both creativity and everyday life.Looking beyond this project, I hope these principles contribute to a broader shift in interior design practice in China and internationally. As cities become denser and space becomes more valuable, the measure of good design will no longer be the amount of area we provide, but the quality of experience we create. I believe future interiors should function as adaptive ecosystems—places where architecture quietly supports human wellbeing, encourages meaningful interaction, and remains flexible enough to accommodate the changing ways people live and work throughout their lives.
One aspect of Nestack Home Office that I believe deserves more attention is that its value lies not in any single design feature, but in the careful orchestration of many small decisions. The project was never intended to be a showcase of iconic forms or expensive materials. Instead, it explores how circulation, proportion, daylight, storage, furniture, and material transitions can work together to create an environment that feels both productive and comfortable. In hybrid spaces, success often comes from what users do not consciously notice: intuitive movement, visual continuity, appropriate privacy, and a calm atmosphere that supports different activities throughout the day.Another important lesson was learning to see constraints as opportunities rather than limitations. The structural shear walls, which initially appeared to restrict the design, ultimately encouraged a layered spatial strategy that naturally organized public, semi-private, and private functions. Rather than fighting the existing structure, I chose to reveal its logic and allow it to guide the spatial experience. This reinforced my belief that meaningful design is often achieved through adaptation instead of replacement.Looking ahead, I hope projects like Nestack Home Office encourage designers to evaluate interiors by their long-term contribution to human wellbeing rather than by visual novelty alone. As work and life continue to evolve, our responsibility extends beyond creating beautiful spaces—we must create environments that remain resilient, adaptable, and emotionally supportive over time. If this project conveys one message, it is that thoughtful design can transform even the most ordinary residential setting into a place where people can work efficiently, live comfortably, and feel genuinely connected to their environment.
The decision to incorporate preserved moss walls was driven by a simple question: how can a workspace feel restorative without compromising efficiency? In a hybrid environment where people may spend an entire day moving between focused work, meetings, and everyday living, I wanted nature to become an integral part of the spatial experience rather than a decorative afterthought. Preserved moss offered the visual softness and calming presence of greenery, making it an appropriate solution for a compact interior with intensive daily use.The moss walls were positioned in areas where people naturally pause, circulate, or transition between functions. Together with natural daylight, warm wood textures, exposed concrete, and carefully integrated linear lighting, they create subtle moments of visual relief that help reduce environmental monotony. Rather than drawing attention to themselves, these natural elements quietly balance the more rational and technical character of the workspace, making the overall environment feel calmer and more welcoming.Our evaluation was primarily based on post-occupancy observation and user feedback rather than laboratory measurements. We observed that employees were more likely to use the lounge and informal discussion areas for spontaneous conversations, while focused workspaces maintained a calm and concentrated atmosphere throughout the day. Users consistently described the environment as feeling less stressful and more comfortable than a conventional office, particularly during long working hours. Although we did not quantify physiological indicators, these behavioral observations confirmed that biophilic design can positively influence both emotional wellbeing and workplace interaction.For me, the preserved moss walls represent a broader design philosophy. Biophilic design is not simply about introducing plants into a room; it is about restoring a subtle connection between people and nature within everyday life. In Nestack Home Office, these elements help transform a compact hybrid workplace into an environment that supports concentration, encourages communication, and promotes a healthier rhythm between work and living.For me, the preserved moss walls represent a broader design philosophy. Biophilic design is not simply about introducing plants into a room; it is about restoring a subtle connection between people and nature within everyday life. In Nestack Home Office, these elements help transform a compact hybrid workplace into an environment that supports concentration, encourages communication, and promotes a healthier rhythm between work and living.
Visual continuity was one of the fundamental principles guiding the entire design process. My objective was not to make every space look identical, but to create a coherent spatial narrative where each functional zone possesses its own character while remaining part of a unified whole. As people move from the reception area to the open office, meeting rooms, managerial offices, and finally the private living quarters, the transition feels gradual and intuitive rather than abrupt.To achieve this, I established a consistent design language that extends throughout the interior. Integrated linear lighting acts as a continuous visual guide, emphasizing circulation and reinforcing the spatial sequence. A restrained palette of wood, stone, concrete, metal, and living greenery appears repeatedly across different spaces, creating familiarity while allowing subtle variations in texture and atmosphere to reflect each area's function. Custom cabinetry further strengthens this continuity by integrating storage, partitions, and display elements into a unified architectural system, reducing visual clutter and maximizing spatial efficiency.Multifunctional furniture also plays an important role. Rather than treating furniture as independent objects, I designed it as an extension of the architecture. Workstations, meeting tables, storage units, and residential furniture share consistent proportions, detailing, and material finishes, allowing spaces to adapt to different activities without disrupting the overall visual rhythm. This flexibility is especially important in a hybrid environment, where functions continuously evolve throughout the day.Equally important was the careful control of openness and privacy. Instead of relying on strong physical separations, the project uses changes in transparency, material texture, lighting intensity, and spatial proportion to define different degrees of privacy. This layered transition allows users to experience a natural progression from collaborative workspaces to quiet living areas while maintaining psychological comfort and orientation.Ultimately, I believe visual continuity is about creating a sense of order that people can intuitively understand. When architecture, lighting, materials, furniture, and circulation are designed as an integrated system, the interior no longer feels like a collection of separate rooms. It becomes a seamless living and working ecosystem that supports productivity, comfort, and everyday wellbeing without asking users to consciously think about how the space functions.