New Office Works designed the Garden Living Loft in Haikou, China, working from a concept rooted in the specific landscape surrounding the building. Dense foliage and the interplay between natural growth and urban infrastructure prompted a decision that runs against the conventional stacking of residential space: private rooms, the master bedroom, bathroom, and wardrobe sit on the ground floor, while the living room, kitchen, and study occupy the upper level. The inversion puts social and daily living spaces where the views are best, with sightlines into the canopy extending the indoor space visually outward.

A spiral staircase connects the 2 floors, bordered by a concrete wall that the studio describes as a reference to the city's urban texture. The material contrast is direct: concrete reads against walnut flooring and built-in joinery on the ground floor, and against the organic density of the garden views above. Large travertine slabs and white pebbles feature throughout, while blackened steel appears in the staircase, window frames, and balustrades, providing a consistent industrial thread through the material palette.

The selection of materials is calibrated to work across both registers at once. Walnut and travertine carry warmth and weight at floor level. Blackened steel holds the structural and framing elements without adding color. The combination lets the garden remain the dominant visual element while the interior reads as composed and deliberate rather than neutral.