Wabi Sabi Residential House

Press Kit

Unique Properties

In the horizontal layout, the slightly raised flooring delineates the living room and dining room. Without solid walls blocking the view, the residence welcomes abundant natural light. Thus, light trails are added to the calm and secluded dwelling that embraces the wabi-sabi aesthetic. In the interwoven textures, the daylight spreads like ripples through water. The varying intensities of light and shadow that change over time frame the view. The contrast of light and dark colors, rigid and soft textures, and cold and warm tones create a unique and exuberant look to the residence.

Dimensions & Packaging

In the space of 100 square meters, there are an entrance, one living room, one dining room, one kitchen, two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Tags

Wabi Sabi, Japanese aesthetics, Grayscale paints, Horizontal layout, Eco-friendly

Production Technology

Storage system cabinets, artistic lacquer coatings, large tiles, soundproof and airtight windows, special glass, iron parts, super wear-resistant floors, custom-made furniture, imported kitchen equipment

Design Challenge

In each room, the door is flush with the wall and disguised by giving it the same finish as its surroundings. Hidden doors are functionally integrated into the home to bring a sense of simplicity. At the balcony, sliding glass door is designed to separate the interior from the exterior. The louvers gently filter abundant light into the room, creating a much softer glow of light. By adopting damp-proof and air-purifying paints, the use of electrical equipment can be reduced, thus creating a living space that is energy-saving, pleasant, and eco-friendly.

Project Duration

The project finished in January 2023 in Taichung City, Taiwan.

Operation Flow

Upon opening the main door, one is instantly bathed in subdued atmosphere that can relax stressful thoughts every day. Without excessive changes in materials and shapes and the use of decorative decors, the residence features grayscale paints extending to the facades and ceilings in the entire space. Together with the stucco tile flooring and the gray fabric sofa, they create a cohesive look in the three-dimensional space. The bedroom continues the stable tone of the communal space, with a slim table in the middle of the painted bedside wall, which not only serves as a platform for storage but also softens the oppressive feeling of the large body. The reflective black mirror next to the bedside wall enhances the visual depth.

Research

The window-facing dining area can enjoy soft, warm light. The kitchen island with built-in IH stoves is convenient for homeowners to prepare light meals or make soup, thus promoting the interaction between the residents. The dark brown stone is the surface of the kitchen island, and the mellow stone textures set the focal point in the dining room and kitchen. To blend seamlessly in the overall view, the cabinets on one side have grayscale doors, while the ink-colored aluminum grating on the ceiling casts a low-key glow in the daylight, creating delicate spatial layers through color gradients.

Inspiration

Inspired by the Japanese aesthetics of wabi-sabi, the residence is back to its original simplicity and purity through primitive textures and pure color schemes. Applied on the wall by hand, finishes are created using a trowel to add a simple, recessed feel. The interweaving of roughness and delicacy creates a sense of unobtrusive beauty in the endless interplay of lights and shadows. A wabi-sabi abode comes to life.

Image Credits

FORLIFE DESIGN

Colors of Wabi Sabi Residential House