Childhood Forests: A Beauty Remembered

Q. Soar Design Studio’s portfolio includes residential and commercial spaces, many of which are renovations of old buildings. Could you share how you respect the existing state of these historic structures while fostering interaction with the surrounding environment?

A: What’s fascinating about old buildings is their ability to exhibit a kind of beauty or character that new constructions simply cannot replicate. No matter what modern materials you use, you can’t recreate the essence of natural weathering. An old house is much like an aged person—it carries its own personality, and as architects, it’s our mission to uncover its strengths and enhance them. However, the challenge lies in balancing design and structural engineering when working with old buildings. That said, I believe old houses possess a natural charm that requires little embellishment, which, if anything, only accentuates their beauty.

While the clues for an old house’s restoration are often embedded within itself, from the initial design stages to construction, we make frequent visits to immerse ourselves in the building’s essence, searching for subtle hints along the way. For instance, we recently completed the headquarters of a construction company. This 50-to-60-year-old building retained its original green flooring, a signature feature of houses from that era, along with the iron window grilles commonly seen in the neighborhood. I extended these elements and blended them with the design methods often used by Soar Design studio, transforming the interior into a series of box-like spaces. Its façade now resembles a collage of Taiwan’s old neighborhoods, reflecting local culture and capturing the essence of the surrounding environment.