Project Overview

How would you manage your rest life when you were going to retire?

The project is a renovation of an old house. The designer gave the new life to the space by re-arranging the layout and function. The organic vegetable garden is set on the rooftop; by doing so, the space is given a new meaning, the temperature is effectively reduced, and the life is enriched with joy. Besides, the crops can be provided not only to the owner but friends, which conforms to the contemporary concept of urban farm, and promotes the communication between people.

Organisation

G DESIGN

Team

FU CHU HSU, HUNG-WEI WU

Project Brief

Keeping the element of memory, giving the space a new life span, making the life experience extend. The project and the surrounding environment reach a harmonious relationship. The design team not only improve the original residential space, but provide the sustainability and possibility to the client’s next phase of life. Confucius said: “Being in humaneness is good. If we select other goodness and thus are far apart from humaneness, how can we be the wise?”

Project Need

A new layer of thermal insulation material is paved on the roof to block the heat from the sun, and the flower stands in front of the floor-to-ceiling window are set to prevent the direct sunlight. LOW-E glass is adapted as the material of floor-to-ceiling window in the living room. By using LOW-E glass, the temperature of the sunlight and UV damage can be effectively reduced. Accompanied the installation of cellular shades, which have good thermal insulation effect, heat is efficiently reduced in the space.

To meet the client’s expectation, the original dark colour tone is replaced with bright colours. The wood colour of the furniture is the core of the space, going with the wood tiles which are strictly proofing; the overall interior colour tone is unified.

Design Challenge

The project is on the rooftop; thus, it is easy to be hot and muggy during summer time. There was a wall with architectural concrete in the indoor space. Though the wall was built in poor construction techniques and stained as time goes by, the design team decided to keep it because the wall bears the weight of client’s memory. The design team fist polished the walls to remove mildew and stain, then coating it to restore the brand-new texture.

Sustainability

In terms of the materials, LOW-E glass is selected to reduce the heat transfers from sunlight. The roof is covered with soil to efficiently block the heat. The design team used cellular shades to create an insulating layer and decline the indoor temperature. Besides, the curtain can be adjusted up and down, which not only protects the client’s privacy but keeps the ventilation at the same time. Moreover, it helps cut down the use of air conditioner, and further lower the energy consumption.