Project Overview
Located in the high altitude of 900 meters in the mountains, the building keeps a low-profile and simple appearance. The mixture of cement painted, natural concrete texture, render of clouds which enhances the conversation between time and the building. It is almost the highest local hostel, the house coexists with the surrounding of primary forest. More than 80% of food served are planted, harvested and consumed by themselves. It also aims at using solar system and hydro power as more than half of their energy supply. It has become a model of self-sufficiency of the hillside, waiting for you to visit and experience.
Project Commissioner
Project Creator
Team
Alfie Shao
Project Brief
The value of this building does not lies on the splendid design techniques, but lies on the involvement and expectation of the owners, Mr. Chiang. Because of the 921 Earthquake, He gave up his work in Taipei and returned to his hometown to rebuild a shelter for his family. His determination and involvement to construct the house by himself is very impressive. After discussing and talking over for more than five years with the designer, the building is finally completed with all sorts of the difficult problems solved. All accommodation rooms, we have designed a balcony that larger than the average on purpose, creating a space which is between indoor and outdoor called “semi-outdoor space”." Our idea is very simple, without TV, internet and air condition, people should spend more time at outdoors or the semi-outdoor space in the room, contacting with the nature closely. It is also the operating spirit of hotel back to the mountain.
Project Need
In addition to the function of accommodation, the common area in the middle was designed deliberately for a special intention. To meet Mr. Chiang's additional expectation, this building is not just a house or a hostel. It is an elf in the hillside - a church in the mountain. It allows those adults who used to gather together along the hill for drink, those lonely children who go to school in remote area and those elderly who are always being ignored, to have an dependence for their spirit, a precipitation for their mind and a support for their life.
Design Challenge
Mr. Chiang and his wife are young man of 1980s generation. They quitted their job with strong determination for this project. They involved themselves fully in the ideal of building their own house on their own land. At last, even the whole family came to help. But the whole process was still filled with frustration and stress. Although there are professional assistance of a design team, Mr. Chiang choose to reach the cooperative firm so as to lower the costs and fulfill the concept of his house. He is a complete novice of architecture, construction site, dealing with workers and even how to fitting in the nature. He scratched his head and said awkwardly, "You can imagine a man with Acrophobia walking on scaffold with construction plans. I was not only hit on the head because of the height, but also bitten all over by mosquitoes with wrapped head and nowhere to hide. I had to tear my throat to communicate with the workers in order to let them understand my idea.
Sustainability
Designers also helped to design and handmade decoration stuffs and art pieces by using materials from the mountains. The whole building demonstrates traces of handmade, ranging from architecture to interior design, from decoration stuffs to art pieces.
Interior Design - International Hospitality
Open to all international projects this award celebrates innovative and creative building interiors, with consideration given to space creation and planning, furnishings, finishes, aesthetic presentation and functionality. Consideration also given to space allocation, traffic flow, building services, lighting, fixtures, flooring, colours, furnishings and surface finishes.
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