this traditional taiwanese compound has been transformed into a home for a family of five

HAO design, an architecture and interiors firm based in taiwan, has transformed a dilapidated ensemble of buildings in pingtung city into a contemporary home for a family of five. the original buildings, which are more than 60 years old, were in a state of disrepair and desperately needed structural reinforcement of well as aesthetic attention. consequently, the design team began the project — known as ‘the living lab’ — by replacing the roof with an exterior surface of matte grey japanese tiles.

all images by hey!cheese

HAO design then worked to bring as much natural light into the property as possible: carefully positioned skylights have been integrated throughout, while a glazed circular aperture extends sight-lines from the kitchen. elsewhere, the hallway windows retain their square, round, and diamond shapes. the compound’s original iron windows, which evoke a strong sense of nostalgia, have been repurposed as railings for the accessible balcony on the upper level.

other previously existing elements, such as the original stone floor and wall tiles, have been restored and incorporated, while the furniture and decorations are a mix of taiwanese and european designs from the 1940s to the 1980s. the vintage items — which include wooden stools, chinese medicine cabinets, rattan curtains, indian lamps, and german microscopes — were collected by the design team over a number of years. see other projects by HAO on designboom here.

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project info:

name: the living lab, traditional clan estate
interior design: HAO design
location: pingtung city, taiwan
area: 211 sqm
year: 2018
type: three-sectioned compound
residents: five individuals from three generations of the clan
layout: five halls
photography: hey!cheese
text editor: tsai shu-tien
main materials: lotos cement, special cement coating, fine bamboo, yellow cypress, italian kiln-fired bricks and japanese glazed steel tile