Laundry treating apparatus and method for controlling the same

A laundry treating apparatus comprising:

• a cabinet having an opening defined at a front portion thereof;
• a drum rotatably disposed in the cabinet, the drum having an inlet defined at a front portion thereof and configured to introduce laundry to the drum;
• a front plate that is located between the cabinet and the drum and is configured to support the front portion of the drum;
• a base that is disposed below the drum, the base defining a space configured to at least one of (i) receive air discharged from the drum and guide the air to the drum or (ii) collect moisture condensed from the air;
• a motor configured to rotate the drum, the motor being disposed rearward relative to the drum and spaced apart from the base;
• a steam generator configured to generate steam to be supplied to the drum;
• and
• a heat exchange unit comprising:
• a first heat exchanger disposed at the base and configured to condense the moisture in the air,
• a second heat exchanger disposed at the base and configured to heat the air, and
• a compressor configured to supply a refrigerant to the first heat exchanger or the second heat exchanger to thereby enable heat exchange between the air and the refrigerant,
• wherein the base defines:
• a circulation flow path that accommodates the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger and is configured to guide the air toward the drum, and
• a steam generator installation space that is spaced apart from the circulation flow path and accommodates the steam generator, and
• wherein the steam generator is disposed forward toward the front plate relative to the compressor and is disposed at a side of the circulation flow path.