Urban Zen Nhazi Ime Ụlọ Obibi by Kai-Jung Chen and Tzu-Hsin Chou

Urban Zen Nhazi Ime Ụlọ Obibi by Kai-Jung Chen and Tzu-Hsin Chou is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz in Nhazi Ime Ụlọ na Ngosipụta Competition Category.

BronzIme Ụlọ· 2026

Urban Zen Nhazi Ime Ụlọ Obibi

by Kai-Jung Chen and Tzu-Hsin Chou

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

Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz Winner in Ime Ụlọ Category

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The Design

About Urban Zen Nhazi Ime Ụlọ Obibi

Urban Zen bụ nhazi ime ụlọ obibi maka ụlọ nwere mita skwea 115.7 na Taiwan. Ọrụ a jikọtara ndụ obodo mepere emepe nke oge a na mma nka Zen nke ndị Japan. Windo e ji ele snow nke nwere oghere a na-agbanwe agbanwe na-achịkwa ìhè ehihie na echiche a haziri ahazi. Ọnụ ụlọ tatami na-enye ebe dị jụụ maka ndị ọbịa na ntụgharị uche. Agba osisi na-ekpo ọkụ dị nro karịa n'ime ụlọ obibi na ebe iri nri ma dịkwa oji karịa n'ime ọnụ ụlọ ihi ụra. Ihe eji arụ ọrụ gụnyere kabinet na-enweghị formaldehyde, mbadamba calcium silicate, osisi siri ike na laminate nwere nrụgide dị elu. E wuru ụzọ ije anụ ụlọ na osisi n'etiti kabinet ndị ahụ maka nwamba bi n'ụlọ ahụ.

The Recognition

About the Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Bronz

Urban Zen Nhazi Ime Ụlọ Obibi meriri A' Design Award nke Bronz, nnabata dị oke ugwu e nyere design ndị pụtara ìhè nke a ma ama maka nzụlite ihe, ọgụgụ isi na nghọta. Ndị meriri na Bronz bụ ihe e mere nke ndị nwere nka nke ukwuu ma dị mma n'imepụta nke na-egosi ahụmahụ buru ibu, echiche na ọgụgụ isi nke ndị designer ha. A na-atụ anya na Urban Zen Nhazi Ime Ụlọ Obibi ga-abụ ihe a na-asọpụrụ nke ukwuu, a na-eto na a hụrụ n'anya, nke dị oke ọrụ ma dị ọhụrụ. Design a meriri A' Design Award nke Bronz na-agụnye ụzọ kacha mma n'ime nka, sayensị, design na teknụzụ, ma dị mma nke ukwuu maka nlebara anya ya n'obere ihe. Urban Zen Nhazi Ime Ụlọ Obibi na-emezu mkpa nke ọma, na-emetụ ọchịchọ aka, na-adọrọ mmetụta obi ma na-adọta ọchịchọ ịmara.

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.