calm atmosphere

Situated in the Beitou Hot Spring Area at the foot of Taipei’s Datun Mountains, this residence was designed by Fang Shin-yuan for a senior couple to live in after retirement.
During the Japanese occupation period, the site was a renowned destination for hot springs. Drawing inspiration from the surroundings of abundant natural resources and cultural atmosphere, the residence was designed for the purpose of creating and storing memories for its users: through the use of materials, such as recycled wood, concrete, terrazzo, and tatami.
Designed by wei yi design, recycled hinoki wood (native wood grown in Taiwan) and cement with simple matte finish were used as the main materials for shaping the interior space, lending a weathered, nostalgic and calm atmosphere to the residence.
The curved structure in the hallway provides a smoothness and variance to the circulation, in addition to its storage function. Using a sculptural process, the designer gave the curve’s facade a weathered and aged appearance, adding rusted metal and gold foil to the grayish black material.
Green mountains visible in the distance and native trees on all sides, combined with the style and arrangement of furniture in the open layout, blur the boundaries of the space. The indoors and outdoors seemingly meld as one. A steel blue cabinet “floating” in the entry marks the indoors, and directs the circulation.
Different styles of furniture break the spatial restriction. Customised lighting hangs from the ceiling, one is a square shaped and the other is a simple rod shape, embellishing different spaces and satisfying different lighting functions. The fully glassed exterior-facing wall of the washitsu room, for meditation and serving tea, brings the trees and scenery indoors.
This 160m² space displays an abundant variety of materials. Once again, the essence of minimal design, the significance of proportion in modernist partitions, the minimalist aesthetic of the Song dynasty and its elegant details and atmosphere.