IDPA Japan Design Award

2025 International Design Pioneer Award | Japan Tokyo
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Innovative Heritage

by W&CH Design

Project Description


Nestled in the picturesque countryside of Miaoli, Taiwan, this stunning property is a five-story glass transparent modern house that effortlessly blends the traditional charm of the owner's ancestral home with contemporary minimalist and light industrial design elements. This exceptional residence offers a seamless fusion of modern and traditional aesthetics, providing new life functions and the chance to savor the unhurried pace of rural living.
Surrounded by verdant fields and lush gardens, this remarkable abode boasts a large glass curtain design that allows an abundance of natural light and greenery to flood the interiors, creating a serene and inviting atmosphere. The seamless integration of the house with the surrounding natural beauty creates an unparalleled living experience, providing the perfect escape for those seeking to reconnect with nature.
The proprietor of a piece of land returned to his place of origin to undertake the construction of a new residence. The objective of this project was to provide a natural and comfortable living space for his family and relatives. This endeavor involved a highly optimized renovation of the indigenous land on the present site, which surmounted the regulatory restrictions posed by the proximity of the building to the highway. Consequently, the area was exempted to build a five-story edifice. The extended and narrow structure was designed with several window apertures, which enable the maximum inflow of natural light in the interior spaces. The overall low-profile and serene design, complemented by modern aesthetics, constitutes the fundamental axis of the space, imparting a new and comfortable living experience to the residents. Furthermore, the initial and secondary floors are endowed with an open space, supplemented by glass curtains, that allows the building to preserve a modern design and an interaction area with nature, thereby fulfilling the proprietor's desire for a vast field of vision.
The interior design of the house is breathtakingly beautiful. The living room has been designed to be a completely transparent space that offers unobstructed views of the surroundings. The room is furnished with colorful cushion sofas, arranged in a half-circle along the curved floor-to-ceiling windows, which provide an artistic touch to the light industrial style of the house. The sofas are not only comfortable, but also add a pop of color to the room, making it a vibrant and lively space that is perfect for relaxing and spending quality time with family and friends.
The design team has paid special attention to the needs of the elderly and mobility-restricted individuals. To make it easier for them to access the upper floors, an elevator has been installed on the high floor. The glass floors and staircases on the second and third floors are stunning, increasing the vertical visual permeability of the interior space. This not only enhances the sense of space but also promotes interaction between family members, making it easier for them to connect and bond.
As you walk up the stairs and into the tatami-mat-paved space, you will feel a sense of calm and tranquility. This space not only provides a place to rest but also perpetuates the nostalgic feel of the house. The tatami-mat-paved floor is soft and comfortable, and the space is perfect for meditation, yoga, or simply relaxing with a good book. Overall, the house is a stunning example of beautiful interior design that seamlessly blends form and function to create a space that is both beautiful and practical.
The project aims to integrate the contemporary space with the traditional ancestral home and also incorporates glass curtains to preserve the space's heritage while presenting a new appearance. A significant number of window openings are provided to increase the natural light, thus reducing the frequency of light fixtures, which, in turn, saves energy and reduces carbon emissions. The flooring on the third floor is constructed using natural wood, which is highly durable and recyclable, thus significantly reducing the depletion of natural resources. Additionally, the building's walls are constructed with water-molded cement boards, which ensures the durability and stability of the building while contributing to sustainable development.

W&CH Design


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