Clients
are spouses of graphic designers in need of a home and an office at the same
time (SOHO/Small Office Home Office). Hence, the dialog between the domestic
area and working area is the most essential part.
To
preserve the privacy of the domestic area, zoning is executed vertically and
horizontally. Vertically, the ground floor becomes the working area/design
studio whereas the upper floor becomes the house.
An opening
at the back of the site becomes a private area for the occupants, while the
public area is located at the front of the site. This zoning accounts for the
genuine condition of the area, a vacant land children used to play soccer in.
To preserve the spirit, the Building Embankment is drawn back about 8 meters to
create a public area in the front yard. Social functions and academic events
such as graphic community discussions can be held there.
In
addition to the clear zoning, the façade is also an essential part of the
communication device to communicate with the surrounding neighborhood.
Conceptually, “pores” are the secondary skin of the building, in which having
“pores” means that the building can breathe. Bamboo is chosen as the primary
material for its sensitivity to climate. The bamboo is installed by staking one
onto another, with no nails used, because it will hold on stronger and leave no
jointing marks. The area between the secondary skin and the façade of the
building can be used as a verandah and smoking area. Structurally, this
building is an urban infill. A steel structure is used to speed up the working
process and exploit neighbors’ sidewalls on the left side of the building.