This is a two-and-a-half storey high villa located in a hilly district of Taipei City; it is an older building that has been extensively renovated (both the interior and the exterior).

The main focus in the design was on creating a natural, comfortable home with a restrained elegance that avoids excessively complex decor, in line with the client’s own lifestyle.

GIVING THE HOME A NATURAL LOOK THAT EMBODIES A SEARCH FOR AN “URBAN SHANGRI-LA”

AQUAPONICS “GREEN WALL”

This aspect of the design embodies the client’s interest in healthy living and their desire to grow vegetables for their own consumption. This area of the house provides a venue for parent-child interaction, while also bringing green vistas into the kitchen area of the building.

A FUSION OF ASIAN AND WESTERN SPATIAL ELEMENTS

To give the entrance lobby a spacious visual feel, the banisters for the stairs have been secreted inside the lines of the fish-tanks.

As the stairs ascend upwards, the glass walls of the fish-tanks provide invisible protection for anyone climbing upstairs.

Besides their practical function, the fish-tanks also help to ensure compliance with Fengshui requirements concerning the visibility of entrances. At the same time, the fish-tanks serve as an attractive visual feature for both the entrance lobby and the grandparents’ bedroom.

The spatial layout also incorporates the Chinese-style collector’s items belonging to the client. This merging of Asian and Western styles gives new vitality to old elements.

GREEN ROOF

The planting of vegetables and trees on the roof not only helps to reduce the temperature of the upper floor, it also reflects the client’s desire for a green lifestyle.

VITALITY

The swimming fish, the greenery, the light and the good ventilation all help to enrich the owner’s lifestyle, creating a “hidden paradise” far removed from the noise and bustle of the city.