A few days ago, we received an email notifying us that we had won the Platinum Award in the 2026 MUSE Design Awards. Frankly, the initial reaction was one of surprise. After all, the common impression is that such international awards usually go to dazzling landmark buildings or avant-garde art installations, not to a team like ours—one that helps people build and renovate houses and yards. But upon reflection, it felt genuinely gratifying. It demonstrates that the "old-fashioned approach" we have consistently adhered to—building a client's house as if it were our own home—holds real value.
Taking this opportunity, we'd like to discuss what truly drives competition in the current custom home building sector. 1. Why More People Are Choosing "Custom-Built" Over "Buying Off-the-Shelf" In recent years, we've observed a shift: our clients are no longer primarily people "without a place to live," but rather those who are "tired of standard solutions." Some are entrepreneurs living in city villas, frustrated by impractical layouts where even elderly family members struggle with steps. Others are professionals returning to their hometowns from major cities, wanting to build a truly "proper" house on their family land, not just a cookie-cutter European-style villa identical to the neighbor's. There is also a growing number of urban families seeking a courtyard home on the city outskirts—a place for weekend gardening with the kids or stargazing. These individuals don't lack housing; they lack a home that is "just right." What does "just right" mean? It means an elderly parent's room has enough depth for a comfortable armchair to enjoy the sun. It means the kitchen offers a view into the yard, allowing a parent to keep an eye on the children while cooking. It means having space for that piano, that tea table, or the studio they never had the chance to create. Such specific needs are difficult to meet with mass-produced commercial properties and are often hard to communicate clearly to local construction crews. This is precisely the reason Ocean Cottage exists. 2. What Truly Sets Us Apart? Three Honest Points Since this is a conversation, let's skip the fluff. Our main differences likely boil down to three points: First, we genuinely understand "how a family lives." This isn't just a slogan. Drawing on the Ocean Group's extensive experience in residential development and senior living, we apply these insights to custom home design. For an elderly person's room, we don't just add a handrail by the door. We ensure proper non-slip flooring and adjust the heights of cabinets and tables to function as "invisible supports"—providing natural resting points without the clinical feel of wall-mounted rails everywhere. These details aren't obvious on blueprints, but they are felt every single day by those who live there. Second, we don't leave you with a "mystery box." What's the biggest risk with hiring a private crew? It's the disconnect between stunning renderings and disappointing reality. Without consistent oversight, changes are made on the fly, leading to budget overruns, delays, and unsatisfactory results. Our approach is straightforward: we apply large-enterprise engineering standards to every truck of concrete, every steel bar, and every construction phase. The process involves regular inspections and milestone approvals. You don't need to be on-site daily; we provide regular reports and photos. What you finally receive is exactly what was promised. Third, we don't "compete on lowest price," but we aren't "outrageously expensive" either. Some people hear the name "Ocean" and assume high costs. It's true; we aren't the cheapest option because we use quality materials and never cut corners. However, for equivalent quality, we can confidently say our prices are competitive. How? Through standardized plans that avoid wasteful mid-project changes, bulk purchasing that reduces material costs, and efficient project management that prevents worker downtime. The savings from these practices are passed on to our clients, not kept as extra profit. 3. This Award Really Belongs to Our Clients Returning to the MUSE Platinum Award. The design the jury favored was actually a suburban independent house we renovated last year for a client in Beijing. The client's request was simple: "Four elderly parents, three generations under one roof, and everyone should live comfortably." What we did was essentially gentle grading, creating level floors, and opening up sightlines—allowing the elderly to see the children from inside the house, the children to see their family from the yard, and the middle-generation working from home to have their own private, quiet space. It was fundamentally simple. Perhaps it was this very simplicity that resonated with judges accustomed to extravagant architectural statements. So, this award is less for Ocean Cottage and more for all the clients who entrusted their homes to us. It is your trust that allowed us to create works imbued with genuine human warmth. 4. If You're Also Thinking About "Building Your Own Home" If you also dream of a courtyard, a countryside villa, or simply want to make your current home more comfortable, we welcome the chance to talk. We won't rush to show you renderings. We'd rather first listen: How many are in your family? How is the health of the elderly members? How old are the children? What do you enjoy doing at home? The answers to these questions are the true starting point of any design. Ocean Cottage understands homes, understands families, and understands you.
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