chain10 designs modern home to blend seamlessly with taiwanese countryside

local architecture firm chain10 architecture & interior design institute has designed a residential property in the taiwanese countryside with minimal impact on the environment. adjacent to the low-density residential area of the agongdian reservoir in the mountains of kaohsiung, at a glance it looks like an orchard with lots of hills.

all images by moooten studio / qimin wu

in front of the property, there is a private road that takes into account the privacy and safety of vehicles entering and exiting. a green slope was created under the suspended wall on the second floor of the main building facing the southward hilly land. the natural grassy slope in the courtyard echoes the greenness of the hillside slope and a number of taiwanese beech trees were planted to further enhance the greenness of the property.

with this project, chain10’s aim was to go further with its connection to the environment without disturbing the local wildlife. a typical project like this would usually cause a lot of disruption to their habitats as well as affect the combination of internal and external lighting. because of this, chain10 wanted to minimize the effect of the internal physical lighting, which is positioned in such a way that it doesn’t disturb the habitats in the area.

many projects try to control the environment, for example, the typical south-westerly wind direction was a big consideration during the summer. this wind combined with the facade is why the building is much cooler and requires less usage of electricity to keep it cool. during winter, the hills block the cold wind. the direction combined with the suspended nature of the building means there is greater air circulation which benefits the residents in a hot climate like taiwan.

a large number of green trees were positioned around the building taking into the location of the property and attempting to address carbon neutrality. the exterior of the building is made of breathable and environmentally friendly paint with galvanized steel. meanwhile, the interior design clean and simple, whilst tries to remain ethical and sustainable. environmentally-friendly recycled materials have been extensively used so the structure is easily alterable.

by significantly reducing the cost of construction, critical resources were brought to bear on the spaces inside. the south-facing hilly green slopes situated in the courtyard extends the public space for the family and over time, the movement of the trees creates light and shadow in the yard which brings a liveliness to the residents.

plentiful natural light enters the room through large floor-to-ceiling windows meaning only a small number of artificial light sources are needed. as time goes by, the owners can directly feel the difference of light, reminding them to cherish the beauty of the moment.

project info:

architects: chain10 architecture and interior design institute
project name: comfort in context
location: kaohsiung city, taiwan
lead designer: keng-fu lo
office name: chain10 architecture & interior design institute
photographer: moooten studio / qimin wu