Iron Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2026
Salute to the S Apartment Interior Design
by Pai Mo Chang
- A' Design Award 2026 Iron Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Awarded April 15, 2026
- CLIENT: HC Design
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 4,549
- Verification code D90851F94F · Verify this award
About Salute to the S Apartment Interior Design
Salute to the S is an apartment interior design of 78 square meters located in Taipei, Taiwan, and planned for a family of three. The layout is inspired by the design philosophy of Philippe Starck and balances minimalism and maximalism, light and dark. A large irregular ceiling light, built on the interplay of concave and convex lenses, shifts in color above the dining area. A built-in banquette around the island adds seating for gatherings. Low VOC certified paint and boards and LED fixtures were used throughout.
PAI-MO CHANG's Salute to the S Apartment Interior Design transforms the conventional residential bathroom into a sophisticated spatial retreat where geological grandeur meets intimate domesticity, demonstrating how contemporary interior architecture can elevate quotidian functional programs through material integrity and programmatic innovation. Working within established traditions of luxury residential design that privilege natural stone as marker of permanence and refinement, the designer orchestrates a compelling dialogue between cool marble expanses and warm accent elements, between hard mineral surfaces and soft textile interventions, creating environmental balance that honors both sensory richness and visual restraint. The composition achieves notable success in its material choreography, allowing the dramatically veined marble to dominate the architectural envelope while strategically introducing sage-green cabinetry and beige upholstery as chromatic counterpoints that prevent the space from reading as cold or austere. The inclusion of an upholstered banquette within bathroom programming represents a thoughtful spatial proposition, suggesting the designer's interest in expanding functional expectations and creating environments that accommodate contemplation, reading, or social interaction beyond traditional hygienic routines, thereby enriching domestic life through architectural generosity. Technical execution demonstrates considerable sophistication in the precise joinery of marble panels whose veining patterns align to create continuous geological narratives across surfaces, in the calibrated proportions of cabinetry volumes that provide visual grounding without overwhelming the space, and in the careful selection of fixtures whose industrial-inspired forms introduce sculptural interest while maintaining functional clarity. The restrained palette of pearl grays, sage greens, warm beiges, and charcoal accents reflects mature chromatic judgment, avoiding obvious contrast in favor of nuanced tonal relationships that reward sustained attention. Lighting design deserves particular note for its evenness and subtlety, creating ambient illumination that enhances material legibility without introducing dramatic spatial modeling, an approach appropriate for the contemplative mood the space proposes. Thematically, this interior invites consideration of how domestic architecture might reconcile opposing qualities such as geological timescale and human immediacy, public luxury codes and private intimacy, minimalist restraint and sensory abundance, ultimately proposing that residential space can simultaneously embody serenity and richness, simplicity and complexity. The work stands within contemporary conversations regarding material authenticity, spatial flexibility, and the capacity of residential interiors to nourish inhabitants beyond purely functional provision, suggesting that everyday domestic rituals deserve settings of beauty and thoughtfulness. How might the marriage of enduring materials and comfortable furnishings reshape our understanding of private sanctuary spaces within contemporary urban living?
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Spanning 78 square meters, this project presents an inventive residential typology, inspired by Philippe Starck’s notable works and his design philosophy. Designed with the occupants’ lifestyle in mind, the interior planning explores the undertones of Starck’s design contexts, aiming to provide the occupants not only a well-equipped apartment, but also a state-of-the-art way of living.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Construction area 78 square meter.
- Tags
- Modern design, subversive design, creative, contemporary design
- Production Technology
- The giant, mirror-shaped, irregular ceiling light pays homage to Starck’s masterpiece, which works on the interplay between concave and convex lenses. While the light color shifts, a splendid, surreal atmosphere imbues the dining area. The built-in banquette maximizes seating around the island, encouraging intimate gatherings and creating a tasteful lifestyle with a sense of occasion.
- Design Challenge
- Complemented by soft furnishings, a white-based, well-structured, and linear-layered backdrop frames the view of the surrounding greenery. A lumpy red carpet that can be moved adds a playful vibrancy to the sunlit and minimal living area. The main wall stretches in an elongated arc, leading a slithering transition toward the dining section.
- Project Duration
- Taipei city, Taiwan
- Operation Flow
- This apartment benefits from sweeping mountain views, embracing its natural surroundings for the family of three. At the entrance, a round-angled pillar demarcates the space into distinct areas, while the horn-shaped ceiling evokes Starck’s understated design motif. Along the pseudo-cement paneled pathway, the color palette transitions from pale hues to deep, multi-textured tone in the culinary section. While the overall ambiance varies, the dining area inherits the symbols of Starck with a theatrical twist.
- Research
- To comply with sustainable consciousness, only eco-friendly materials were applied during the construction. For example, both the paint and carpentry boards are low VOC and GREENGUARD certified. Lighting fixtures are assembled with LED devices to efficiently save energy.
- Inspiration
- Through a serial arrangement of Starck’s iconic signatures, the space is full of a tapestry of contrasts. Clean-lined, contrasting and subversive design elements establish a spatial narrative that feels both simple and sensual, echoing the essence of modern artistry. Backlit indirect lighting accentuates layers of dynamic streamlines, unveiling a sense of fluid movement. Living flows gently between the light and the dark, minimalism and maximalism, stillness and motion, enriching the family in a harmonious rhythm of artistry and innovation which is deeply connected to modern aesthetics.
- Image Credits
- DEFI Photography and Ming-Che Wu Photographer
- Patents
- Copyrights belong to HC Design