Project Overview

The design is based on Tainan elements as the main axis, combining many of the traditional elements of Tainan City in Taiwan, which were transformed into a modern style and then designed into the desired space, in response to light, trees and stones, two small trees were planted in the space to make the space full of greenery, the biggest goal is to make patients feel like being outdoors, and the flooring also made a slight distinction between the material, sip stone symbolizes the outdoors, while the wooden flooring symbolizes the interior, through simple material changes, so that people who are in this space, even though they are inside, can still make themselves through the design approach as if they were in a courtyard of a triad house.

Organisation

Antennae Designers Office

Project Brief

This TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) clinic design is based on light, wood, and stone, using natural materials to highlight the essence of herbal medicine in a modern way and break the interior and exterior lines of the space, making the reception area located inside look like an outdoor courtyard, balancing the original embarrassment of this small space, and using a circular design to replace every sharp corner of the space, so that the space presents a sense of warmth as represented by herbal medicine.

Project Innovation/Need

The Tainan-based TCM clinic is different from Chinese TCM in that it pursues an authentic Taiwanese style in both its medical and spatial design, and transforms many elements native to China into elements exclusive to Taiwan.

The research process explores the history and culture of Taiwan, which was once colonized and has a multicultural character, and because it was ruled by Japan, the traditional Taiwanese space has a strong Japanese culture and spatial appearance.

On the left side of the counter, a green light box is used to increase the lighting, and on the other side, trees are planted and lighting is done. The reception area is made of hand-woven wood pieces combined with the beams in the ceiling and the washed stone technique originally used for the floor is applied to the walls, presenting an old-time Taiwanese design style.

Design Challenge

The biggest challenge came from the limitation of space size. In a space of less than 50 square meters, all the requirements had to be fulfilled, but because the space was too small, the construction space and budget were limited, so the construction steps and construction time had to be adjusted and coordinated.

In the design, the washed stone technique traditionally used on the floor is applied to the wall, making the wall and the floor line up to visually open up the space, and with the combination of tatami mats and benches made of wood, the counters present an outdoor feeling, as if they were indoors or outdoors, as if they were in a courtyard of a triplex.

Sustainability

This project was designed and built in as little as one month, using local materials and workers. In addition to the speed of the project, the preservation of old methods was one of the designer's ideals. The designer asked masters to construct parts of the design using traditional techniques such as wood weaving, stone grinding, and tenon joints in the ceiling to preserve the culture. For the cultural sustainability.