After many years of living in a luxury high-rise apartment, the homeowner, now elderly, cherishes numerous memories. Rather than focusing on practical service facilities, the priority is to strengthen connections with family and neighbors. To achieve this, the owner returned to the old neighborhood where they once lived, purchased land, and built a house to live alongside their siblings who also live alone.
The house is thoughtfully designed to accommodate the physical needs of the elderly residents, prioritizing convenience and accessibility. Given their age and deep spiritual needs, the design emphasizes the experience of space and natural light, enabling the homeowners to feel grounded in reality while exploring their inner world more profoundly.
The inspiration behind Ding’s residence stems from the experience of camping in a forest. Standing amidst towering cliffs, two adjacent cliffs create a narrow gap through which light filters, drawing the eye and creating a captivating space that seems to pull inward. This gap of light sparks reflections on human existence. In the vast flow of time and space, human life feels small and fleeting.
The house is designed as a hollow rectangular block. Inside, two cylindrical columns support the roof, complemented by dual lighting and ventilation channels along each side of the structure. A narrow channel between the walls and the cylindrical structures functions as a skylight, allowing natural light to stream inside.
This light illuminates the two cylindrical columns and gives the impression that the space bends and is drawn inward towards the skylight openings. The light then radiates back into the house, evoking feelings of excitement and hope—much like the light at the end of a tunnel.
The skylight channel also serves as a ventilation system. Folding doors at the front and back of the house can be opened or closed as needed to promote air circulation and convection throughout the building.
The interior design is kept simple, with furniture placed close to the walls to maximize open space. This layout accentuates the interplay of space and light, helping the homeowners feel more connected to reality, cherish life deeply, and reflect on the meaning of their own existence and that of their loved ones in their later years.
Must log in before commenting!
Sign Up