Unfinished Journey Residensial by Vivian Chiu and Ke Ye Wu

Unfinished Journey Residensial by Vivian Chiu and Ke Ye Wu is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award Besi in Desain Ruang Interior dan Pameran Competition Category.

BesiInterior· 2025

Unfinished Journey Residensial

by Vivian Chiu and Ke Ye Wu

Client: Pure Interior Design Limited Company

A' Design Award Besi Winner in Interior Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #162879

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Colors

The Design

About Unfinished Journey Residensial

Proyek ini merevitalisasi sebuah hunian berusia lima dekade melalui perkuatan struktural dan penggunaan adaptif. Bata merah asli dan beton ekspos dipertahankan dan ditingkatkan dengan sistem baja khusus yang meningkatkan daya tahan dan fluiditas spasial. Material yang dapat bernapas mengatasi tantangan iklim sementara elemen-elemen yang dapat dipindahkan memperkenalkan fleksibilitas. Desain ini menyeimbangkan memori dan fungsi, mengubah rumah menjadi ruang hidup abadi yang berkembang bersama penghuninya.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Besi

Unfinished Journey Residensial adalah pemenang A' Design Award Besi, pengakuan yang bergengsi yang diberikan kepada desain yang baik yang memenuhi persyaratan profesional dan industri yang diharapkan dari kreasi yang dirancang dengan baik. Pemenang Besi menunjukkan keterampilan yang besar, spesialisasi yang tinggi, pemahaman ahli, dan kapasitas kreatif para penciptanya. Unfinished Journey Residensial diharapkan menjadi kreasi yang sangat dihargai, dikagumi, dan dicintai yang praktis dan inovatif. Desain pemenang A' Design Award Besi ini mengintegrasikan praktik terbaik industri dan memiliki karakteristik teknis yang kompeten yang terkait dengan pengetahuan teknis dan bakat. Unfinished Journey Residensial dihormati karena ketelitiannya dan dirancang untuk memberikan peningkatan kualitas hidup yang membantu menjadikan dunia tempat yang lebih baik.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: This design redefines regeneration by integrating structural reinforcement as an aesthetic language. The exposed steel system strengthens the old framework while becoming a visual anchor. Flexible layouts, adaptive furniture, and breathable material treatments create a living space that evolves with time, balancing durability function and understated industrial beauty rarely seen in typical residential projects.
Dimensions & Packaging: This project is a renovation of a house over 60 years old. The building consists of two floors and a basement, with each floor measuring 105 square meters. The first floor is designed as an open plan living and dining area, along with a kitchen and a bathroom. The second floor includes a bedroom, a bathroom, and a shared living and working zone.
Tags: Adaptive Reuse, Structural Reinforcement, Industrial Aesthetics, Sustainable Renovation, Memory Architecture, Flexible Living Space, Material Authenticity
Production Technology: The design was realized through a subtractive approach prioritizing preservation and structural enhancement. Original red bricks were treated with breathable coatings to retain texture while reducing dust. Exposed steel elements were custom fabricated for reinforcement and visual continuity. Lightweight steel frames reduced load on aging structures while allowing spatial openness. The process combined material honesty adaptive reuse and detailed onsite craftsmanship.
Design Challenge: The hardest part was preserving the emotional value while ensuring structural safety. Every decision required sensitivity as the house carried decades of family memories. Severe deterioration from humidity posed risks demanding precise reinforcement. The lack of original construction records and adapting modern techniques to unstable foundations pushed the team to constant onsite testing and creative problem-solving.
Research: The research focused on material behavior and structural adaptation in aging buildings. The aim was to investigate how original elements could be kept while improving durability. Site surveys, structural assessments and material tests conducted, collaborating with engineers, builders and local craftsmen provided data. Results showed that exposed steel systems and breathable coatings balance aesthetics and function offering a replicable model for sustainable renovation.
Inspiration: The inspiration came from the house itself, a place that quietly carried over fifty years of family memories. The design was driven by the desire to preserve its unique character and let the traces of time become part of routine, allowing every brick and exposed surface to speak of time and life. By embracing the beauty of raw materials, the project transforms the space into a living story where past and present flow seamlessly together.
Project Duration: This project is located in Taoyuan, Taiwan. Design began in December 2023 and was completed in December 2024.
Operation Flow: Sunlight filters through large openings casting shadows across textured brick walls, while the subtle scent of aged materials lingers in the air. The open layout invites seamless movement between living and working spaces where footsteps echo gently against the concrete floor. Sliding barn doors open with a soft scrape, revealing hidden corners while steel and wood surfaces offer a tactile connection to the past, grounding every moment in quiet familiarity.
Patents: Pure Interior Design Limited Company
Team Members: Designer: Vivian Chiu
Designer: Ke Ye Wu
Image Credits: Image #1: MD Pursuit
Image #2: MD Pursuit
Image #3: MD Pursuit
Image #4: MD Pursuit
Image #5: MD Pursuit