Ecru Hale ʻAina by Chia Yu Chan is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 A' Design Award Kala in Hoʻolālā Loko Hale a me Hōʻike Competition Category.

KalaLoko Hale· 2024

Ecru Hale ʻAina

by Chia Yu Chan

Client: MI Interior Design

A' Design Award Kala Winner in Loko Hale Category

25,024

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #157019

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Ecru Hale ʻAina

Mai ka hua ʻōlelo Palani ʻo Ecru, e wehewehe ana i ka waihoʻoluʻu o ka lole lina i hoʻomaʻemaʻe ʻole ʻia. ʻO ka manaʻo o ka Hale ʻAina ʻo Ecru ma ke Apana Hikina o Taipei e hāʻawi i kahi ʻike ʻaina mālie. Hoʻohana ka hoʻolālā i kahi ala ma ka puka komo e hoʻololi ai mai ka ʻōwili o ke kūlanakauhale i ka maluhia, e alakaʻi ana i kahi wahi hamama me kahi lumi kuke hamama waena. Hoʻohui kēia hoʻonohonoho i ka kuke ʻana i loko o ka ʻike ʻaina, e hoʻolauna ana i ka poʻe ʻaina me nā leo a me nā ʻala.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Kala

Ua lanakila ka hoʻolālā Ecru Hale ʻAina i ka A' Design Award Kala, he ʻike hoʻohanohano nui loa i hāʻawi ʻia i nā hoʻolālā kiʻekiʻe loa, nani a kupaianaha. He mau hana ʻālohilohi loa a hana noʻeau nui nā lanakila Kala e hōʻike ana i ka loea, ka makakoho a me ka ʻoi aku o ka noʻonoʻo o kā lākou poʻe hoʻolālā. Manaʻo ʻia ʻo ka hoʻolālā Ecru Hale ʻAina he hana kupaianaha, kūlana ʻoi aku, ʻoihana kiʻekiʻe a hou loa. ʻO kēia hoʻolālā i lanakila i ka A' Design Award Kala he mea hoʻokumu kūpono loa, mahalo ʻia e hāʻawi i ka pōmaikaʻi a hoʻoneʻe i nā palena o ka hana noʻeau, ka ʻepekema, ka hoʻolālā a me ka ʻenehana. He mea i ʻeleu ʻia e nā mea he nui ka hoʻolālā Ecru Hale ʻAina e hoʻāla i ka makemake, lawe mai i nā manaʻo maikaʻi a hoʻāla i ka kamahaʻo a me ka mahalo.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: The space retains the original cement texture, using stones and weathered wood for a connection with nature. Beige walls with textured paint, reminiscent of French plating art, create a warm ambiance. The tableware tells stories of the chef's memories with French cuisine.
Dimensions & Packaging: This project has a total area of 244 square meters, with a kitchen space of 40 square meters. The seating capacity is 30 people, including an 8-person private dining room and an underground wine cellar where guests can select wines to complement their meals. Additionally, there are two restrooms, three toilets, a staff office, and two storage rooms. Outdoors, there is a front courtyard occupying 34 square meters.
Tags: Natural，Ecru，Organic，Serene，Wood
Production Technology: In crafting a serene environment, we minimize artificial lighting and harness natural light through porch wall gaps and louvered curtains. Most light sources emanate from the ground, accentuating textures and enhancing the tranquil atmosphere. Stone elements combine marble with lightweight, eco-friendly biophilic PU stone for easy installation. Tables and tableware details showcase irregular shapes, embracing the organic concept.
Design Challenge: To create a calm and relaxed ambiance in the dining space, we've chosen a large area of beige paint with a mottled texture, giving a sense of tranquility and time settling. The texture resembles ceramic dishes' surface patterns, enhancing the visual appeal. The front of the open kitchen serves as the best viewing area, with recycled railway sleepers fixed without nails. The structures on both sides enhance stability and define the dining area in this open space.
Research: The concept of French cuisine sets the tone for our space. Rooted in selecting fresh, local ingredients based on region and season, French cooking emphasizes pure flavors through simple methods. It embodies the essence of Slow Food culture, where "slow" goes beyond savoring delicious meals. It's about taking time to genuinely appreciate the interrelation of food, land, and culture. This lifestyle prioritizes communication and interaction during meals.
Inspiration: French cuisine is all about fresh ingredients, simple cooking, and the chef's artistic presentation, reflecting an elegant and slow-paced lifestyle. Our brand is inspired by French dining culture, focusing on nature, simplicity, and organic elements. We use pure and tranquil materials, keeping things simple and allowing the true essence of the dishes to stand out.
Project Duration: This project was completed in September 2023 in Taipei, Taiwan, and officially opened in October 2023.
Operation Flow: Our goal is to create a relaxed and serene dining experience. The design incorporates a corridor at the entrance, initiating a transition in spatial perception from the city's hustle to tranquility. Following a path, the open area unfolds, with the focal point being the open kitchen at the bottom. This core area transforms the cooking process into part of the dining experience, with sounds of ingredient preparation and the aroma of dishes engaging diners from inside to out.