Cover The double-height windows blur the line between indoors and out. (Photo: courtesy of NC Design + Architecture)
The double-height windows blur the line between indoors and out. (Photo: courtesy of NC Design + Architecture)
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The founder and principal of interior design studio NC Design + Architecture is known for homes that blur the boundaries between indoors and out, as well as his work for brands such as Louis Vuitton
Set against a shock of lush foliage in Guangzhou, Cabin Residence is both a striking design statement and a study in sculptural restraint. The home balances dramatic spatial gestures with an intimate atmosphere. Inside, there are double-volume living spaces and floor-to-ceiling windows that provide sweeping views of sky and greenery.
Yet despite the grandeur, the interiors remain warm and inviting—an exercise in quiet luxury, where proportion, light and materials are orchestrated to create a sense of calm refinement.
The residence, which was completed over the course of two years, is the work of designer and architect Nelson Chow of NC Design + Architecture (NCDA), whose practice has earned a reputation for homes that dissolve the boundaries between indoors and out.
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Above Nelson Chow, in the Cabin Residence dining room. (Photo: courtesy of NC Design + Architecture)
Nelson Chow, in the Cabin Residence dining room. (Photo: courtesy of NC Design + Architecture)
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Take, for example, Timber Residence—a residential complex in a densely populated Hong Kong district that evokes the serenity of cabin living and which received the Gold Prize at the International Design Awards.
Chow is also known for crafting immersive environments, such as the Savoir Rever installation he staged for Louis Vuitton in 2023. Other, upcoming projects include “the new Mandarin Oriental in Hangzhou [due to open this year], a new shopping mall in Dubai focused on immersive retail experiences, several private residences in Hong Kong and abroad, and two distinctive restaurants in one of Hong Kong’s premier landmark shopping malls,” says Chow.
“Each project lets us explore new scales while staying true to creating bold-yet-calming, profoundly connected spaces.” The new property is typical of his firm’s work. “At NCDA, we always prioritise seamless dialogue between interior and exterior,” Chow tells Tatler.
Above Floor-to-ceiling windows allow natural light to flood the home. (Photo: courtesy of NC Design + Architecture)
Floor-to-ceiling windows allow natural light to flood the home. (Photo: courtesy of NC Design + Architecture)
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“For Cabin Residence, this is achieved through expansive floor-to-ceiling glazing that frames panoramic views, allowing natural light to flood the double-height volumes. Semi-translucent, perforated screens softly diffuse light while preserving privacy, encouraging effortless flow between living areas and outdoor terraces—creating a constant, humanistic connection to the surroundings.”
Chow looked to the iconic architecture of Copenhagen’s Louisiana Museum of Modern Art as a conceptual touchstone for the property. Designed in 1958 by architects Jørgen Bo and Wilhelm Wohlert, the Danish museum is known for its understated modernism—long, light-filled galleries that cut through the landscape, connecting other museum pavilions while revealing views of sea, sky and sculpture gardens to visitors. The result is architecture that feels almost devotional; a quiet cathedral to both art and nature.
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The double-height windows blur the line between indoors and out. (Photo: courtesy of NC Design + Architecture)
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“Both the homeowners and I admire the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art for its masterful integration of art, architecture and landscape; its humanistic approach; bold yet discreet forms; and spaces that feel exciting and calming at once. “This resonated strongly with [the owners’] vision for an artistic, never-static retreat deeply connected to its environment.”
Chow translates this sensibility into Cabin Residence through, for example, those massive windows in the main lounge that dissolve the boundary between interior and garden, allowing daylight and greenery to become part of the living experience.
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Another element that sprung from the architecture of the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art was the “discreet modernism”—a term often used to describe the museum itself—imbued into Cabin Residence’s interiors. “Discreet modernism closely aligns with NCDA’s ethos,” says Chow.
“We favour understated elegance, clean lines, natural materials and human scale, where bold sculptural moments support comfort and emotional resonance rather than dominate. This philosophy runs through our residential and hospitality work, much like the Louisiana’s landscape-embracing pavilions.”
Above The 5.8-metre, triple cylindrical fireplace in the living room. (Photo: courtesy of NC Design + Architecture)
The 5.8-metre, triple cylindrical fireplace in the living room. (Photo: courtesy of NC Design + Architecture)
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The focal point in the main lounge is its striking fireplace that subtly references the curves of the art deco streamline modern style. “The triple cylindrical fireplace is a 5.8m-tall stone centrepiece—bold, elegant and profoundly sculptural. Its stacked cylindrical forms accentuate the double-height space, drawing in and interacting beautifully with natural light to emphasise verticality, create a powerful sense of place, and anchor the room with warmth and cultural depth,” says Chow of this creation.
This streamline modern motif continues throughout the room, from the sweeping cove ceiling to the elegant staircase finished in warm walnut. A palette of sand- toned neutrals sets a serene backdrop, enlivened by accents of sage, navy and salmon in the furnishings and décor.
Above The a striking kitchen island clad in rare Cipollino marble. (Photo: courtesy of NC Design + Architecture)
The a striking kitchen island clad in rare Cipollino marble. (Photo: courtesy of NC Design + Architecture)
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Just beyond the open-plan living and dining areas lies the kitchen, which is enclosed by framed glass doors that maintain visual continuity while defining the space. Though a fully functional working kitchen, it contains a glamorous statement piece: a striking octagonal island clad in rare Cipollino marble.
The material’s dramatic veining elevates the everyday rituals of cooking and gathering, transforming a utilitarian zone into a quietly luxurious focal point.
Above The principal bedroom in Cabin Residence. (Photo: courtesy of NC Design + Architecture)
Above The soothing colours of the guest bedroom. (Photo: courtesy of NC Design + Architecture)
The principal bedroom in Cabin Residence. (Photo: courtesy of NC Design + Architecture)
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Cabin Residence’s bedrooms, meanwhile, are tranquil retreats within the home. Here, a softer, more feminine palette of light cream walls accented with blush upholstery lends the principal bedroom a quiet, cocoon-like elegance.
Perforated wooden screens provide a subtle layer of privacy while preserving an openness that visually connects the suite to the main lounge and living areas. As daylight filters through the tiny holes, it casts intricate patterns of light and shadow across the walls, creating a meditative atmosphere that evolves throughout the day.
Above The primary bathroom is enveloped in Appalachian Green marble. (Photo: courtesy of NC Design + Architecture)
The primary bathroom is enveloped in Appalachian Green marble. (Photo: courtesy of NC Design + Architecture)
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The primary bathroom, by contrast, delivers drama. Nearly every surface is enveloped in Appalachian Green marble, its swirling, organic patterns introducing both movement and depth. A fluted his-and-hers vanity elevates the bathroom into a bold yet unmistakably luxurious.
Above The wine cellar. (Photo: courtesy of NC Design + Architecture)
Above The bar has a private members’ vibe. (Photo: courtesy of NC Design + Architecture)
The wine cellar. (Photo: courtesy of NC Design + Architecture)
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The home’s pièce de résistance is the bar and wine cellar, an intimate retreat that could easily rival an exclusive members’ club. Here, soft, ambient lighting frames the vertical wine display, transforming the bottles into a luminous design feature.
Wall panels and the bar counter are clad in aged, patinated brass and framed with warm wood, lending the space a substance and refinement that is perfectly suited to both revelry and quiet celebration.
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Rachelle Medina is an interior designer, writer and content editor for print and web. Formerly the editor in chief of Real Living Philippines, writes about design inspiration, art and culture in everyday life.
