多倫多市區中的現代四合院

我比較喜歡簡約又舒適，實用的家居設計，最好再帶點中國風，明朝那種簡明線條的。純粹的現代裝飾我也不是很喜歡，太冷，太硬。 

而且，我也不喜歡那種大把砸銀子的裝飾。特別的佩服一些年輕的建築師，在囊中羞澀的情況下，買下一間狹窄破爛的房子，然後靠著自己的巧思，把它修建成一個舒適的家。 

下麵的係列照片，是一對建築師夫婦在多倫多的back alley裏麵，把一個廢棄的庫房改建成溫馨的四合院，包括他們的工作室，和兩個孩子的遊玩區。夫妻兩位都是幼年時就移民加拿大的亞裔，從他們的設計可以看到both中西文化的影響。 難怪他們的工作室，叫做studio junction.

開工前，破敗的庫房。可他們看到了未來的家。

施工進行一半了。

完工了。外麵是市區，裏麵別有洞天。二樓的小平台給孩子們一個安全遊玩的地方，而且灑滿陽光。

In the living room abundant daylight can pour in, but rain and snow keep a safe distance from the family’s well-loved collection of vintage furniture.


Tan built storage into every available corner of the house, including the stairs, each of which contains a drawer.


In the kitchen, wall-to-wall cabinets hold files from the adjacent home office in addition to storing servingware and kitchen appliances. The custom island shows off Tan’s craft. The range hood is wrapped in millwork, and the countertop is a 1-inch slab of solid plantation teak. When there’s no cooking going on, “the kitchen can just disappear” behind another piece of wood, Ho Ping Kong says.



Only a set of sliding doors separates the kids’ room from the master bedroom beyond. When the time is right, there is a track inlaid in the ceiling for a four-panel bifold wall to divide the space into two private rooms for Ian and Abbe.

With windows looking out onto the second-story courtyard, the laundry/bathroom area has a custom-made and a picturesque view.

The workshop is used for messy model-making and creative playtime for the kids.

The main courtyard is a “communal” space, Tan says, and the couple keeps a second teak dining set at the ready for occasions when family or friends come for a meal.