Warmed by Light, Rooted in Care

This renovation transforms a 50-year-old former Academia Sinica residence into a healthy, multi-generational home. Located in a quiet Taipei alley, it now houses four adults, two children, and two pets, embracing sustainable and inclusive living. The design prioritizes green renovation principles using non-toxic, low-VOC materials such as diatomaceous earth paint and breathable mineral coatings. Natural cross-ventilation, soft daylight, and spatial openness form the foundation of the intervention. The existing structure posed significant challenges: a low ceiling height of just 2.8 meters, outdated electrical and plumbing systems, and a fragmented floor plan. The design team addressed these by selectively removing partitions, and introducing rounded corners throughout to eliminate sharp transitions. The spatial language is soft yet grounded, merging wabi-sabi restraint with pragmatic living.

A central design gesture is the retention of a partially demolished wall, now hand-plastered to evoke texture and memory. This organic surface, once considered waste, has become a sculptural element that connects the home’s past with its present. Nearby, a recessed electrical box is cleverly hidden in a columnar niche, now used for storing daily medicine and essentials. The front courtyard serves as a semi-outdoor foyer and is one of the homeowner’s favorite features. It filters light and wind into the interior and offers a quiet gardening spot for the grandfather, reinforcing a rhythm of grounded living. The kitchen configuration and extended dining area accommodate frequent family gatherings, while the basement, once a civil defense shelter, is now used as a gym and playroom.

All circulation routes are designed to be barrier-free, with widened bathroom doors for elderly access. Despite modest resources, the project achieved a thoughtful upgrade that prioritizes wellness, usability, and intergenerational comfort. Rather than imposing style, the design honors the imperfections of time and redefines the emotional potential of reuse. This is not a luxury renovation. It is a mindful reinvention of space, transforming a timeworn structure into a breathable, resilient, and beautiful home—one that listens to its residents and grows with them.