Playpod Sanctuary, designed by Bean Buro, exemplifies how residential design can support mental health and foster wellbeing. The project draws inspiration from the Post-Impressionist painter Paul Cézanne, reflecting his serene depictions of landscape through a calming and ebullient aesthetic.
“Our muse came in the form of art – specifically, the celebrated Post-Impressionist works of French artist, Paul Cézanne. His paintings of Provence formed the basis of our narrative, reflecting the calming greenery and tranquil mountainous landscapes of his homeland,” explains Kenny Kinugasa-Tsui, co-founder of Bean Buro.
The brief for this three-storey residence in Hong Kong was to configure a home that met the practical needs of a family of four. However, the defining challenge was to fashion a healing environment that addressed the complexities of mental health recovery in a post-pandemic world. Through empathetic engagement and a collaborative design process, Bean Buro designed a home that meets all functional requirements while promoting flexibility, transformation and coherence.
“Through Cézanne’s art, we envisioned a design language that embodied elegance and playfulness — combining natural timber, green hues, curvaceous forms and vertical elements inspired by trees,” adds Lorène Faure, co-founder of Bean Buro.
Related: “Elegant yet unassuming, detailed yet calming”
The spatial arrangement of Playpod Sanctuary was inspired by the ‘building within a building’ concept. Private, semi-private and public zones are distributed across three levels and a roof terrace, maximising connectivity and interaction through the staircase volumes.
Drawing from Cézanne’s influence, the design amalgamates natural timber, green hues and curvaceous forms, evoking the landscapes of Provence. The process involved collaboration with the family, engaging them in intensive workshops to develop creative, health-conscious and environmentally responsible solutions. This approach led to a wishlist of functional spaces, including a comfortable lounge for guests and an array of diverse children’s activity areas.
Materials and textures were selected to reflect a natural context while ensuring functionality. Neutral timber, light beige textured paint and green accents are built-in throughout, with colourful terrazzo flooring in key areas like the kitchen and entrance chosen for its durability.
Attention was also given to environmental features that impact mental wellbeing. Efficient acoustic partitions, varied lighting conditions and considered colour temperatures form and improve adaptable atmospheres suitable for different activities and preferences within the home.
Next up: Studio 11:11 draws on Arts and Crafts at Heyington Residence