Urban Zen Ka Hoʻolālā Loko Hale Noho by Kai-Jung Chen and Tzu-Hsin Chou

Urban Zen Ka Hoʻolālā Loko Hale Noho by Kai-Jung Chen and Tzu-Hsin Chou is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Keleawe in Hoʻolālā Loko Hale a me Hōʻike Competition Category.

KeleaweLoko Hale· 2026

Urban Zen Ka Hoʻolālā Loko Hale Noho

by Kai-Jung Chen and Tzu-Hsin Chou

Client: MUSA International Design Interior Decoration Co., Ltd.

A' Design Award Keleawe Winner in Loko Hale Category

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Verified Award Winner

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Urban Zen Ka Hoʻolālā Loko Hale Noho

He hoʻolālā loko hale noho ʻo Urban Zen no kekahi home he 115.7 mika kuea ma Taiwan. Hoʻohui kēia papahana i ka noho kūlanakauhale hou me nā kuanaʻike nani Zen Kepanī. Hoʻomalu kekahi pukaaniani nānā hau me nā wehe hiki ke hoʻololi ʻia i ka mālamalama o ke ao a me nā hiʻohiʻona i hoʻopaʻa ʻia. Hāʻawi kekahi lumi tatami i wahi mālie no nā malihini a me ka noʻonoʻo hoʻomaha. ʻOi aku ka māmā o nā kala lāʻau mehana ma nā lumi noho a me nā lumi ʻaina, a ʻoi aku ka pouli ma nā lumi moe. ʻO nā pono hana, ʻo ia nā waihona ʻole formaldehyde, nā papa calcium silicate, ka lāʻau paʻa a me ka laminate kaomi kiʻekiʻe. Ua kūkulu ʻia kahi ala hele holoholona a me kekahi kumulāʻau ma waena o nā waihona no ka pōpoki noho.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Keleawe

Ua lanakila ka hoʻolālā Urban Zen Ka Hoʻolālā Loko Hale Noho 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 Urban Zen Ka Hoʻolālā Loko Hale Noho 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 Urban Zen Ka Hoʻolālā Loko Hale Noho 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 project integrates Japanese Zen aesthetics, especially the concept of yukimi. A snow-viewing window with adjustable openings creates shifting light and shadow; fully raised, it frames the snow outside, while lowered, it preserves calm serenity. A tatami room welcomes guests for meditation, offering a pure Zen retreat. Considering the owner's cat, designers embedded a pet walkway and a tree between cabinets. Laminated finishes ensure safety and ease of movement, blending feline comfort with spatial design and fostering harmony between people and pets.
Dimensions & Packaging: The site is 115.7 square meters. There are three rooms: a living room, a dining room, and two bathrooms, including a master bedroom, a second bedroom, and a study room. In terms of layout changes, the designers changed the original rectangular kitchen into an L-shape to increase space and functionality. The living room and dining room were also reconfigured to better suit the owner's lifestyle. In the private area, each room has a window and is in a dark tone, with acoustic curtains to create a serene atmosphere.
Tags: Japanese design, Zen style, Yukimi windows, grilles, wood tones, pet-friendly, customized remodeling
Production Technology: The project adopts eco-friendly materials, including formaldehyde-free system cabinets, calcium silicate panels, tawny mirrors, solid wood, and high-pressure laminate. Warm wood tones define the palette: lighter shades in social areas like the living and dining rooms enhance openness and brightness, while darker tones in bedrooms foster calm and focus. Solid wood, left unpainted, ensures cat-friendly safety by reducing ingestion risks. The overall materiality balances aesthetics, sustainability, and harmonious living with pets.
Design Challenge: Most furniture and fixtures were custom-made, including windows and tatami mats. The designers coordinated closely with carpenters to align schedules and ensure precision. Uneven wall surfaces required careful adjustments, especially during window installation, to prevent issues such as handle collisions. As the owners' ideas were initially unclear, the designers guided them through discussions to articulate their needs. This process ensured that practical solutions, aesthetic details, and the final atmosphere aligned with the owners' vision.
Research: Titled Urban Zen, the project is a customized renovation reflecting the owner's preference for Japanese aesthetics. Drawing from Zen wood patterns and totems, the designers created an elegant, harmonious atmosphere. Elements such as sequential grilles and delicate window motifs echo Yukimi's casual style, blending simplicity with warmth. Neutral tones welcome daylight, while open social areas frame unobstructed views. Built-in cabinets integrate pet-friendly features, allowing daily life and serenity to coexist, slowing the city's pace within a tranquil, Zen-inspired home.
Inspiration: The inspiration comes from the owners' love of the Japanese Zen style, especially their appreciation of the culture and style when they traveled to Japan. As a result, the designers aimed to create a residence that combines urban modernity with Japanese Zen style, allowing the owners to enjoy a vacation-like atmosphere at home. Iconic elements such as grilles, wood grain, Yukimi windows, and tatami mats make the space aesthetically pleasing yet functional and pet-friendly.
Project Duration: The project finished in May 2024 in Taiwan.
Operation Flow: Owners give very positive feedback on the project. In particular, they appreciate the Japanese Zen style of modern living. The simplicity and calmness of the Japanese style can be felt in every corner of the home. Both the decoration and the functionality are very well thought out. When the windows are open, one can see the breeze, and when the windows are closed, one can enjoy the tranquility. For a cat-loving family, the designers skillfully integrated the cat's activity area into the design, allowing the cat to move freely in all spaces and increasing the cozy atmosphere.
Team Members: Kai-Jung Chen, Tzu-Hsin Chou
Image Credits: MUSA International Design Interior Decoration Co., Ltd.