Symbiosis Cat House Elamu by Jimmy Yung is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Hõbeauhind A' Design Award in Arhitektuuri, hoonete ja rajatiste disain Competition Category.

HõbeArhitektuur· 2026

Symbiosis Cat House Elamu

by Jimmy Yung

Client: Happystudio

Hõbeauhind A' Design Award Winner in Arhitektuur Category

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Verified Award Winner
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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

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The Design

About Symbiosis Cat House Elamu

Symbiosis Cat House on kitsale linnakrundile projekteeritud elamu. Neljakorruseline maja võimaldab allergiatega inimestel ja kassidel koos elada. Vertikaalne tsoneerimisstrateegia eraldab loomade alad inimeste aladest. Keskne aatrium tekitab passiivse korstnaefekti, mis eemaldab allergeenid ilma mahukate mehaaniliste süsteemideta. Liivakastialasid teenindavad spetsiaalsed väljatõmbeseadmed. Katmata betoon, puhasvuukmüüritis ja perforeeritud metallastmed piiravad tolmu ja keemilisi heitmeid. Trepi kõrval kõrgub kassitorn, mis hoiab leibkonna visuaalselt ühendatuna.

The Recognition

About the Hõbeauhind A' Design Award

Symbiosis Cat House Elamu on Hõbeauhinna A' Design Award võitja, ülimalt prestiižikas tunnustus, mis antakse tipptasemel, suurepärastele ja muljetavaldavatele disainidele. Hõbevõitjad on ülimalt säravad ja erakordselt loovad tööd, mis illustreerivad oma disainerite silmapaistvat kogemust, annet ja teravmeelsust. Symbiosis Cat House Elamu peaks olema imeline, eeskujulik töö, mis on märkimisväärselt professionaalne ja sügavalt uuenduslik. See Hõbeauhinna A' Design Award võidudisain on väga tähelepanuväärne, imetletud leiutis, mis toob kasu ning nihutab kunsti, teaduse, disaini ja tehnoloogia piire. Symbiosis Cat House Elamu on laialdaselt kadestatud looming, mis äratab soove, tekitab positiivseid tundeid ning süütab hämmastust ja imestust.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This narrow row house utilizes a vertical zoning strategy to resolve the paradox of density and hygiene. Key features include a stepped setback profile to ensure future adaptability against high rise developments and a dual loop circulation system. The house functions as a metabolic organ, employing a central atrium to drive a stack effect that continuously purges allergens. This ensures that the living environment remains clear without reliance on heavy mechanical systems.
Dimensions & Packaging: The building dimensions are Width 5100 mm by Depth 17050 mm by Height 9700 mm. It occupies a site area of 90 square meters with a total floor area of 250 square meters across four floors. Structural components include uncoated concrete, fair faced brickwork, and perforated metal panels. A central vertical atrium provides passive ventilation while localized exhaust systems manage air quality.
Tags: Residential Architecture, Micro Housing, Hypoallergenic Design, Passive Ventilation, Vertical Zoning, Interspecies Living, CFD Simulation, Brutalism, Pet Friendly Architecture
Production Technology: The construction employs a low maintenance and hypoallergenic material strategy. Fair faced brickwork with calibrated porosity creates a breathing skin for natural air filtration. Uncoated concrete and perforated metal treads minimize the emission of chemical compounds and prevent the accumulation of dander. Aero acoustic zoning utilizes localized negative pressure at litter zones via dedicated mechanical exhaust to ensure high air quality in human zones.
Design Challenge: The primary challenge was reconciling strict biological isolation with visual intimacy on a narrow site. The design had to anticipate future urban density while ensuring the interior remained breathable. Engineering a passive stack effect to isolate dander without extensive use of HVAC systems was the technical peak. The design balances private health requirements with public aesthetic value, proving that rigorous functional needs can yield a rhythmic living environment.
Research: Applied Architectural Research. Objectives included the optimization of health for multiple species in high density settings. Methodology involved spatial mapping and airflow simulation using CFD modeling tools. Participants included a family with severe allergies and two felines. Results showed a ninety five percent reduction in the spread of allergens via vertical zoning. Insights confirm that health is a spatial mechanism. This creates a replicable and neuro inclusive model.
Inspiration: The project originates from a critical conflict between respiratory health and the need for interspecies companionship in dense urban areas. The objective was to demonstrate that biological well being and domestic life can be integrated through spatial innovation. By scaling the internal volume to match the vertical requirements of felines, a nested system was created to protect the air quality for human inhabitants while ensuring freedom for animals.
Project Duration: The project started in January 2022 in Douliu City Taiwan and finished in 2024 in the same location.
Operation Flow: The house functions through a shared vertical journey. As family members walk up the stairs, cats climb up their own dedicated tower right beside them. Both paths rise in tandem around a central void to ensure constant visual and acoustic proximity. Key moments include watching companions move across the atrium or hearing them through light filters while the air remains fresh. This design succeeds by protecting the health of every inhabitant while keeping the emotional bond of the household intact.
Team Members: Design Director: Jimmy Yung
Designer: Tina Liao
Image Credits: All Images: Photographer Yi-Hsien Lee