Project Overview

The project is a magnificent real estate planning project that merges the Scandinavian style of mountain chalets with breathtaking landscaped greenery. The designer has taken into account the owner's specific needs for "all-age housing", "barrier-free housing", "Biophilic design", "environmental protection" and "displaying local humanistic and historical characteristics". They have also aimed to embody the essence of Taiwan's special humanistic and cultural landscapes through the five senses of sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. As a result, the space is designed to be much more than merely a display. It is intended to be a space that is deeply rooted in people's hearts, and local culture, and friendly to the earth, all at the same time.

Organisation

SPU Design international

Team

Chen Yung Fang
Lin Jian Huan
Wang Yu Chun
Chen Yu Ting
Hsieh Yun Rou
Shen Chih-Hung

Project Brief

The project is situated in the picturesque Nantun District of Taiwan, near the famed Alishan-Sun Moon Lake, a place rich in historical and cultural significance. The designers have taken a unique approach and adopted the "borrowed scenery" concept, drawing inspiration from the breathtaking "Sunset of Sun Moon Lake". They have blended this with the minimalist yet charming Scandinavian style aesthetic design, creating a space that is both soothing and inviting. The room is adorned with lush green plants that were casually brought in from the green balcony, adding a touch of nature to the space. The design also incorporates local history, culture, and landscape characteristics, making it an exceptional and unforgettable experience. This project not only challenges conventional thinking about residential space but also caters to the desires of the residents, making it a truly remarkable and well-rounded project.

Project Need

The designer behind the special humanistic landscape of Sun Moon Lake in Alishan utilized a range of materials to create a truly immersive experience for visitors. To emphasize the history of Alishan as a high-grade timber production site, wooden and solid wood panels were used as the space base. The designer then incorporated matte teal mirrors and matte mirrored steel panels to simulate the breathtaking view of Sun Moon Lake during twilight when the fog rises. The result is a stunning depiction of the golden sunset as it is rendered in the fog, with the groundscape perfectly intertwined with this magnificent imagery. The overall effect is a truly mesmerizing experience that will leave visitors in awe of the beauty of Sun Moon Lake in Alishan.

Design Challenge

The designer's goal is to create a truly immersive sensory experience for visitors by utilizing a combination of carefully chosen materials, furniture, and landscape configurations that are specifically tailored to the local culture and environment. To achieve this, the designer has used wood as the main structural element of the space, which serves as the foundation for a visually stunning effect that creates the illusion of sunlight penetrating through the layers of foliage, making the space feel like a natural forest. The designer has also taken great care to incorporate sounds from the surrounding environment into the interior of the space, using the building's green balcony to allow for the sounds of birds, insects, and the wind to resonate throughout the room. This not only creates a rich auditory experience but also helps to blur the line between the indoors and outdoors, making visitors feel more connected to the natural environment.

Sustainability

To cater to the needs and desires of modern individuals, this project utilizes an all-age and barrier-free design to plan the spatial scale. Moreover, it integrates the concepts of nature-friendly design and environmental protection to create a high-quality living space. To begin with, over 60% of the building materials used in this project are green, in line with the regulations of Taiwan. These materials include durable marble, glass, stainless steel panels, and more. Additionally, they consist of recyclable and low-formaldehyde wood, solid wood, glass, and stainless steel panels. The aim is to minimize the impact of the production of building materials on the environment while also prioritizing the health of the occupants. Furthermore, the use of air-conditioning equipment has been substantially reduced to minimize power consumption, as per the unique subtropical weather conditions of the region. The use of green balconies also helps reduce the need for full heat exchangers to maintain indoor air quality and enhance environmental performance. Lastly, the universal design of this project eliminates the need for more than two construction measures in the future. This effectively reduces the production of building materials and waste, thus paving the way for a net-zero carbon emission future.