Kaohsiung Wang Residence
This five-story exposed concrete residence, flanked by two streets, rises with the solidity of a fortress-like base when viewed from afar. Yet, within it lies the designer’s thoughtful pursuit of the essence of living. The architectural team designed the space based on the fluidity of the residents’ movements, starting from their practical needs to align with the couple’s daily lives. Situated on a corner lot near an elevated roadway, the residence faced challenges from external noise and traffic, impacting its quality of life. To address this, the team carefully considered regulatory requirements, the residents’ needs, and lighting conditions, and skillfully incorporated slender airtight windows into the façade, precisely angling them to bring in natural light while sealing off external noise, allowing tranquility to envelop the interiors. This ensured that peace and comfort could unfold across every floor.
Building on the foundation of their dialogue with the clients, the architectural team, designed the ground floor with three individual garage entrances and a main entryway for easy access. Irregularly arranged stones were used to delineate the transitional zone leading to the second floor, while oak cabinetry along the side introduced warmth to the room’s understated gray palette. Sliding louvered doors allowed light to softly illuminate the surroundings, transforming into a gentle guardian light for family members coming and going. Ascending the stairs, the second floor was designed as a flexible space for both dining and impromptu work, addressing the need for a dynamic area for casual office tasks. Sunlight streams in through floor-to-ceiling windows on both sides, with an L-shaped terrace surrounded by walls of a height carefully designed to offer privacy, providing just the right level of seclusion. From inside, the couple, seated on the elegant Y-Chair CH24, whether dining or working, enjoy a view of lush tree canopies stretching outward.
“Moderate leisure is the perfect remedy to balance a busy daily life.” The couple deeply values time for relaxation and gathering with friends and family, so the team designed the first-floor functionality to transition seamlessly into the private domains on floors three to five, using oak extensively to subtly delineate the public and private spaces. The third floor became a space for watching films, unwinding, or hosting intimate gatherings—a healing retreat. This floor accommodates the owners’ leisure hobbies while ensuring practicality by placing the laundry area at its end. Privacy increases as the design ascends to the fourth and fifth floors, which are dedicated to private living spaces. Two bedroom suites are carefully planned with optimal circulation, natural light, and complete amenities, creating sanctuaries for reading or quiet solitude.
Interestingly, the staircase to the rooftop terrace is designed with staggered steps, once again subtly emphasizing functional transitions. Natural sunlight streams down through the rooftop skylight, spilling freely across every floor, creating shifting shadows that change with the sun’s trajectory, and enhancing ventilation with strategically placed windows on each level. This residence not only accommodates the family’s everyday life, but also reflects the team’s thoughtful understanding and care for “people” and “behavior” in its subtle details. Through seamless functionality, it responds thoughtfully to practical needs, shaping the atmosphere of each floor with carefully chosen materials, ultimately crafting the sense of belonging that a “home” should embody, embracing the moments of ease and comfort, both present and future, within its walls.
