Located near Yang-Ming Mountain in Taipei, this project integrates modern technology, chic design, and functionality.
DL Design/TL Architects & Associates completed The Re-born House in 2012, and the original house was built 40 years ago. Only retaining the original structure, and re-constructing all other parts, principal architect Dolly Lin and her team transformed the house into a project that integrates modern technology with chic design.
There is a famous Chinese idiom “yīn dì zhì yí” which means to apply appropriated methods according to the surrounding conditions. The humidity and coldness from the surrounding mountainsides were the main challenge while designing the house. The design team considered and applied modern construction techniques and sustainable methods during the design process.
As the mountain weather is often unpredictable, the house was designed as an experimental project to survive these conditions. Double walls, double paned windows, and an additional underground level of added insulation isolates the damp, freezing temperatures from the earth in cold seasons. Sunlight and ventilation enter through opened windows, so the house doesn’t need any artificial lighting during daytime before 5 p.m. The skylight also permits light and fresh air for natural air circulation. Energy conservation was one of the main focuses during the design process.
The exterior stone panel pattern provides an illusion of vertical extension. On the ground floor, the dining room and living room have floor to ceiling height openings to blur the boundary between the interior and exterior spaces. The staircase is the core circulation of the house and connects its three levels. The top floor is a multi-function room that provides a great view of the mountain’s natural beauty and wildlife.