Tiny House
Beneath the rapidly moving expressways of Taoyuan City, stretches of beautiful fields unfold one after another. A simple turn of the steering wheel allows one to escape the hustle and bustle and enter winding paths, leading deeper inward to a European-style cottage that harmonizes with the natural essence of the land. This cottage took a year to complete, a collaborative effort between rezo and HAND Architecture and Building School, along with the landowner's patience and communication, resulting in a beautifully constructed marvel.
Maggie, the owner, explains that this land was developed by her father as an outdoor space for educational purposes, and the surrounding neighbors also engage in various farming activities on this land, exchanging goods and services, essentially forming a small community. Over decades, it has accumulated the life traces of her parents, with every flower and blade of grass planted by hand, including several tall and majestic bald cypress trees. They decided to construct a new building amidst these memories. This construction is situated among the bald cypress trees, ensuring space for the trees to continue growing. The scale was set to a cottage form, with the eaves adjusted to varying lengths due to the surrounding trees, all shaped with the notion of respecting the land.
This compact space, approximately 165 square feet, currently serves as a peaceful area for the mother to engage in meditation and sitting quietly. It is also designed with the flexibility to be transformed into a lodging space or a spa area in the future. Windows of varying heights are strategically placed around the room to prevent a feeling of oppression, creating a peaceful haven that satisfies the basic living needs of an individual. The designer has strategically placed the windows at angles that provide the most comfortable natural light. Facing a cluttered neighboring room, the window design selectively captures only the appropriate views. Moreover, the window in front of the snack preparation island is extended to form an outdoor bar, fostering more interaction between friends and family both inside and outside.
This compact space, approximately 165 square feet, currently serves as a peaceful area for the mother to engage in meditation and sitting quietly. It is also designed with the flexibility to be transformed into a lodging space or a spa area in the future. Windows of varying heights are strategically placed around the room to prevent a feeling of oppression, creating a peaceful haven that satisfies the basic living needs of an individual. The designer has strategically placed the windows at angles that provide the most comfortable natural light. Facing a cluttered neighboring room, the window design selectively captures only the appropriate views. Moreover, the window in front of the snack preparation island is extended to form an outdoor bar, fostering more interaction between friends and family both inside and outside.
The construction process was achieved through the collaboration of skilled masters and hands-on work by students, with the foundation structure and roof tiles relying on the expertise of professional craftsmen. This journey embraces the possibility of mistakes and learning to solve challenges. Ray Huang, the director of rezo, served as a key coordinator throughout the process, leading students from HAND Experimental High School alongside experts and craftsmen. They experienced every aspect of building construction, fostering a sense of craftsmanship. HAND Architecture and Building School was established in 2018 in collaboration with NSTC-DAAD, aiming to nurture talent with an architectural ethos, drawing on German net-zero building experiences and collaborative housing construction models, with deep annual exchanges. Beyond just the "Tiny House" project, HAND continues to launch new projects and experiments across Taiwan, paving a new path for sustainable and passive architectural practices in Taiwan.
