Path of Light Ke Ala Kukui: Loko Hale Hoʻolālā by Yi Yuen Chang

Path of Light Ke Ala Kukui: Loko Hale Hoʻolālā by Yi Yuen Chang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award Keleawe in Hoʻolālā Loko Hale a me Hōʻike Competition Category.

KeleaweLoko Hale· 2025

Path of Light Ke Ala Kukui: Loko Hale Hoʻolālā

by Yi Yuen Chang

Client: Nanyi Design Interior Design Studio

A' Design Award Keleawe Winner in Loko Hale Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About Path of Light Ke Ala Kukui: Loko Hale Hoʻolālā

ʻO Ke Ala Kukui he loko hale hoʻolālā ʻelua kēlina i kūkulu ʻia ma Hsinchu, Taiwan. Ua hoʻonohonoho ʻia kahi hana e like me kahi hale hōʻikeʻike, kahi e hoʻākāka ai ka mālamalama lā i ka ākea a me ke kahe. Hoʻohana ʻia nā paia ʻekolu hapahā ke kiʻekiʻe, i hoʻonoho ʻokoʻa ʻia, e hoʻoponopono i ka mālamalama a me ke aka i mea e hoʻonui ai i ka hohonu o ka wahi. Alakaʻi nā ʻili like me ka pōhaku i ka neʻe ʻana a hōʻemi hoʻi i ka mālama mau. Aia ma ka papahele lalo he wahi hoʻokipa, kahi ʻāina hālāwai ākea, a me nā keʻena hana. Aia ma ka papahele ʻelua kahi hale hōʻoluʻolu, kahi lumi hōʻikeʻike mea kūkulu, a me kahi lumi papa ākea, me nā kala lāʻau mehana a me ke kukui hoʻonani. Ua mālama ʻia nā hale a me nā lako kahiko i mea e hōʻemi ai i ka hoʻohana ʻana i nā mea hou.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Keleawe

Ua lanakila ka hoʻolālā Path of Light Ke Ala Kukui: Loko Hale Hoʻolālā i ka A' Design Award Keleawe, he ʻike hoʻohanohano nui loa i hāʻawi ʻia i nā hoʻolālā kūʻokoʻa i ʻike ʻia ma o ka hana noʻeau, ka akamai a me ka makakoho. He mau hana mākaukau a hana noʻeau kupaianaha nā lanakila Keleawe e hōʻoia ana i ka ʻike nui, ka noʻonoʻo a me ka maʻalea o kā lākou poʻe hoʻolālā. Manaʻo ʻia ʻo ka hoʻolālā Path of Light Ke Ala Kukui: Loko Hale Hoʻolālā he mea i mahalo nui ʻia, hoʻohiwahiwa ʻia a aloha ʻia, he ʻoihana a hou loa. ʻO kēia hoʻolālā i lanakila i ka A' Design Award Keleawe e hoʻohui ana i nā hana maikaʻi loa o ka hana noʻeau, ka ʻepekema, ka hoʻolālā a me ka ʻenehana, a maikaʻi no kona nānā ʻana i nā kikoʻī. Hoʻokō maikaʻi ka hoʻolālā Path of Light Ke Ala Kukui: Loko Hale Hoʻolālā i nā pono, hoʻopā i ka makemake, hoʻohiwahiwa i nā manaʻo a huki i ka makemake e ʻike.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: The design envisions a gallery inspired workspace, where light defines openness and fluidity. Staggered three quarter height walls act as light modulators, channeling daylight to create a dynamic interplay of illumination and shadow. This deliberate intervention deepens spatial perception, accentuates material contrasts, and fosters an ambiance that evolves with the suns trajectory, seamlessly merging functionality with an artful and evocative aesthetic.
Dimensions & Packaging: This two-story studio is designed for both workspace efficiency and collaborative engagement. The ground floor features a reception area, an open meeting space, a main office area, a beverage station, and a document storage room. The second floor includes a multifunctional open classroom for industry and community events, a dedicated material display room, a discussion area, and a private enclosed meeting room with glass partitions, ensuring both visual transparency and privacy.
Tags: Natural light optimization, material psychology, sustainable design, energy efficiency, feng shui principles, adaptive reuse, low-VOC materials, spatial flow, reflective surfaces, user experience design
Production Technology: The design preserves the building’s structure while integrating sustainable materials and refined finishes. Stone textured walls subtly guide movement and reduce maintenance, while curved partitions and reflective surfaces enhance spatial flow and light distribution. The exposed ceiling, treated with eco friendly coatings, minimizes material use. The second floor VIP salon and gallery, with warm wood tones and ambient lighting, create a refined yet inviting atmosphere.
Design Challenge: The project integrated materiality and user psychology to enhance function and aesthetics. Stone-textured walls subtly discourage touch, maintaining cleanliness. Retaining existing furniture minimized material use, while an exposed ceiling with eco-friendly coatings reduced waste. Maximizing natural light with energy-efficient LEDs lowered consumption, and low-VOC materials improved air quality. Reflective surfaces and white walls enhanced daylight, reducing artificial lighting needs.
Research: This research examines spatial design, light dynamics, and feng shui to balance openness, interaction, and exclusivity. Observational studies and user feedback analyzed workflow efficiency, client engagement, and the psychological effects of light and materiality. Feng shui experiments optimized energy flow, while textured finishes guided movement. Findings show that spatial contrast, strategic lighting, and cultural depth enhance functionality and brand identity.
Inspiration: The project began with a simple observation: how light moves through space, shaping perception and atmosphere. This inspired a workspace where light actively guides transitions, defines boundaries, and adds depth without barriers. Like a gallery, the design emphasizes openness and fluidity, evolving with the interplay of light and shadow. Balancing collaboration and focus, it integrates repurposed materials and natural light, enhancing sustainability while preserving authenticity.
Project Duration: The project commenced in Hsinchu, Taiwan, in December 2023, was completed in April 2024, and officially opened in July 2024.
Operation Flow: As guests step inside, light weaves through staggered partitions, casting shifting patterns that evolve throughout the day. Sunlight moves with them, tracing surfaces, soft in the morning, sharp by noon, and golden at dusk. A dimly lit staircase compresses the space, heightening anticipation. As they ascend, the ceiling lifts, unveiling a warmly illuminated salon where wood tones and ambient lighting envelop them in a quiet, refined elegance. It's an invitation to pause, interact, and immerse.
Image Credits: Image #1: GUAN PIN Studio
Image #2: GUAN PIN Studio
Image #3: GUAN PIN Studio
Image #4: GUAN PIN Studio
Image #5: GUAN PIN Studio