by Chain10 Architecture & Interior Design Institute

The property is adjacent to the low-density residential area of the Agongdian Reservoir in the mountains of Kaohsiung. Keeping the environment in mind, we minimize the architecture’s size to ensure water resources can be absorbed by the ground and passed through to the water table as much as possible. At the same time, less artificial lighting was installed in this area, which disturbed the original habitat less and was also a savior of energy resources.
With façades on the east and west sides, we create a suspended shape to increase the shaded coverage, blocking the severe sunlight. Along with the green slope facing the southward hilly land, it not only echoes the greenness around but also secures enough privacy. We keep most windows on the north and south sides of the building, bringing in enough natural light into the building when the east-west direct sunlight is blocked to prevent high temperatures. At the same time, the windows allow the typical southwesterly wind blowing through the reservoir in summer to become a natural air conditioner. Partnered with the southside green slop, the trees become an air filter that improves the air quality of the southwesterly wind. Factoring in the wind direction with the architectural design allows better ventilation, reduces the need for electricity, and lowers to a comfortable temperature.
To us, protecting the environment is not just words but actions. Better ventilation design and lighting reduce energy consumption. Environmentally friendly materials such as the exterior building’s galvanized steel paint and sustainable interior decoration have been extensively used to reduce carbon emissions and better maintain sustainability. Our goal and priority are to create beautiful architecture in line with protecting nature.
The primary challenge involved navigating the delicate equilibrium between privacy and socialization for the two families. Architectural experimentation with geometry, spatial orientation, facades and volumetric massing address this challenge.
The project’s emphasis on internal circulation drove the design process, adopting a sculptural tectonic approach reflected in the volumetric massing of the final structure. The resulting curvilinear formal language imparts a sense of dynamism and motion to the living spaces.
The house is located at the rear of a corner plot, forming an L shape in plan, leaving the front part as open space. Spatial organization is guided by internal horizontal and vertical circulation, with sequential layouts aligning spaces based on functional dependence.
In terms of organization, the ground floor and southeast part of the first floor constitute one residence, while the northwest part of the first floor and the entire second floor belong to the other.
The volumetric displacement of facades generates balconies and cantilevers, strategically limiting visual contact between interiors and creating secluded outdoor spaces. A sculptural ribbon-like geometry on the front inner facade creates an impression of a moving structure.
Aligned with principles of green design, the project prioritizes sustainability by optimizing building orientation to maximize sunlight exposure. Its green roof in combination with the garden, accounting for 75% of the overall site coverage, reflects a commitment to environmentally conscious practices. The building utilizes renewable energy sources, incorporating geothermal energy for heating and cooling, along with photovoltaics to balance electricity consumption.
House Symbiosis caters to the cultural context of Greek families desiring close proximity for their children while addressing the shifting paradigms of post-pandemic residential preferences. Its innovative design redefines the conventional understanding of a double residency, offering an architecture that harmonizes private and shared spaces, thereby fostering enduring connections.
Category:Private HomesYear:2019Location:Kaohsiung, Taiwan Architects: Chain10 Architecture & Interior Design InstituteLead Architect: Keng Fu LoContractor:Chain10 Architecture & Interior Design InstituteClient: Ying-Hsiung ChiaoPhotographer: Qimin Wu, Moooten Studio