Soft Light is a minimalist home located in Guangzhou, China, designed by Chen Zhichao Design. This transformation began with an act of liberation. The original hardcover layout, while functionally complete, imprisoned its inhabitants within rigid compartments that spoke more of efficiency than of living. The design team recognized that true dwelling requires breathing room, both literal and metaphorical. Their first decisive move was to remove the entrance screen and dissolve the barrier between kitchen and foyer, allowing these spaces to flow into one another like water finding its natural course.

The spiral staircase emerged as the project’s defining gesture, replacing a utilitarian straight run that had consumed precious wall space and created awkward circulation patterns. This curved ascent does more than save square footage – it introduces a sculptural element that anchors the open plan while creating what the homeowners describe as a sense of romantic ceremony in their daily movements through the house.

In the main living area, natural light becomes the primary medium for spatial definition. Rather than conventional curtains, motorized roller blinds filter the intense southern exposure into what residents call a soft luminous halo. Above, a section of stretch ceiling conceals lighting that mimics skylight, creating the illusion that daylight continues even after dusk. This careful orchestration of illumination transforms the space throughout the day, making the white walls and pale wood surfaces appear to breathe with the changing hours.

The dining area centers around a black elliptical table whose irregular form echoes the staircase’s curvature while providing an intimate counterpoint to the surrounding openness. Kitchen and dining merge through the strategic placement of an island counter where the original sliding door once stood, fostering what the owners describe as their preferred mode of entertaining: cooking and conversing simultaneously.