FMX interior design's 'returning hut' is a nature-rich retreat in china

in china, FMX interior design has realized a peaceful, countryside retreat conceived to help relieve its inhabitants of their city-related stress. the client lamented the increasingly small size of contemporary urban homes, and the effect of this on lives and lifestyles. in his brief, the owner requested a house capable of transporting inhabitants far from the demands of the urban grind, creating a welcoming, nature-rich environment — a spiritual and mental retreat.

the outside terrain is integrated seamlessly with the interior furnishing
all images by wu yong-chang

the resultant design by FMX, entitled ‘returning hut’, is a modern but humble structure, that emphasizes warmth and solitude. lofty ceilings in the living area create a unburdened, spacious atmosphere, magnified by wall to ceiling glass paneling — in harsh contrast to the confines of today’s generic apartments. the natural world is invited in and extends into the house as exposed stone blocks and light, sculpted wood accentuate and decorate the space within. the exposed interior walls are made mainly of natural materials such as bluestone, slate and solid wood and are presented without excess decoration. the outside world is ever present, the sitting room’s large windows ensuring that the surrounding natural landscape is an inescapable dimension of the design.

expansive glass paneling fills the space with natural light, with high ceilings magnifying the effect

wall-hugging stairs maximize space, and lead to the wood-clad kitchen on the second level. interior glass walls elegantly delineate boundaries between the master bedroom and main bathroom, with a second bedroom and children’s room also located on the upper storey. in addition to the continued use of expansive glass windowing, nature makes a literal appearance in the bathroom as a rockface erupts from the ground, framing the luxurious sunken bathtub.

simple, exposed rock is used to neat, unpretentious effect 

‘though it is just inches away from the downtown, it brings people who live in it an experience of living secluded from the world,’ says xu fu-min, founder of FMX. ‘through reasonable functional planning and use of simple lines and structures, and together with adopting simple and natural furniture as decoration in the space, a simple but cozy and warm living space is built’.

the house is intended as a retreat from city life

wall hugging stairs maximize space on the lower level

the ground floor is also home to an in-house cinema

upstairs, the kitchen is clad in wood

interior glass walls continue the effect of a seamless, continuous living space that integrates with the outside world

a rockface emerges from the ground in the master bathroom and frames the generous tub

an atmosphere of warmth and security is felt throughout the design

project info:

design director: xu fu-min
design company: FMX interior design
design scope: architecture and interior design
project type: residence
location: fujian, china
area: 390 sqm
completed: 2015
photographer: wu yong-chang

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: peter corboy | designboom

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