Life in the city is something that everyone tries to escape. It is full of cars, noises and things that assault our senses. By stepping out of our comfort zone, we gain the ability to try a new lifestyle.
The property is adjacent to the low-density residential area of the Agongdian Reservoir in mountains of Kaohsiung. Due to the location of the residence, we knew there would be numerous local wild animal and insect species. With this project, we wanted to go further with its connection to the environment. 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. What I could do was minimize the effect of the internal physical lighting. This lighting has been positioned in such a way that it doesn’t disturb the habitats in the area.
Here, we factored in the typical south- westly wind direction during summer. This wind combined with the facade is why the building is much cooler and requires less usage of electricity to keep it cool. The exterior of the building is made of breathable and environmentally friendly paint with galvanized steel. Environmentally-friendly recycled materials have been extensively used so the structure is easily alterable. The reduced carbon emissions are expected to preserve more of the planet for the next generation.
The living room has always been the focus of family. By significantly reducing the cost of construction we managed to focus more resources on the spaces inside. The south-facing hilly green slopes situated in the courtyard extends the public space. Over time, the movement of the trees creates light and shadow in the yard which brings a liveliness.