Interview with Peilun Li

Design is my true love.

This was a coincidence. But now I believe I am chosen.

Private houses, museums.
I am always interested in designing of variety types of projects I have never done before.

Always redefine what you see and what you hear.

A good designer might know the clients by eyes/ears. A great designer understands them by brains, and even more loves them by heart.

I believe when the design gets the achievement of truth, excellence and then beauty, it will be successful. And this is the right order.

For me, design is to improve the relationship between people and objects.
It's definitely worthy of being invested.

My own house.

Taiwan will surpass Japan in 2025 to become a "super ageing society." That is, 20% of the population is over 65 years old. I am very concerned about the design issues of the elderly population and hope to propose a new type of old-age housing model in connection with social design.

I believe when the design gets the achievement of truth, excellence and then beauty, it will be successful. And this is the right order.

I visited Lunuganga in Sri Lanka designed by Geoffrey Bawa this Spring. The continuous scenes flow with objects, nature and time, which impressed me very much. It is an excellent relation between person and architecture in the nature world.

It's a structure made of shading nets and wood, like a screenhouse in the forest designed by a young Taiwanese architect Divooe Zein. It also create a filter between "bright" and "dark", "In" and "Out", "colorful" and "greyscale"....etc. He doesn't do much, however, the design achievement is rich.

I am more satisfied with my latest project "Qing House". It is a comprehensive practice of my design philosophy from landcape , architecture and interior design.

To cultivate the ability of observation and skill of sketch.

A movie director.

For me, design is to improve the relationship between people and objects.
There is nothing that can’t be designed and there is always room for improvement.

My major was Interior Design in university but I dreamed of becoming a dancer at that time. After graduated, I might escape from this professional field or have multiple jobs at the same time. Until three years ago, I failed to carry out design work due to health factors. In the meantime, I suddenly realized that design is my true love. The involvement of various fields in the past 20 years allows me to keep an open mind when thinking. All of these help me review the reality of design all the time and enjoy its beauty.

I thought I love other things better.

To work happily till the end of life.

When respect the physical condition of a project, we can save energy as much as possible. When face and restructure the real needs of users, we will not over-design. If we can do it with materials from cradle to cradle, better. Ｔhe highest level is to propose systematic plans from the perspective of social design by crossover cooperation with different professions. Sometimes the best design is invisible.

I am working on a architectural house design, which is located in beautiful Eastern Taiwan, facing the Pacific Ocean and having the mountains in the back.

It was a museum design (Aurora Museum) in Shanghai. The museum collection is divided into Buddhist Sculptures, Ancient Jade, Ancient Pottery Figures, and Blue-and-white Porcelains. The master planner of this project was Tadao Ando and I was in charged of 2F Special Exhibitions Space. The standard of physical conditions such as temperature, humidity and light design is strict. It's quite a challenge for me .

Taiwan will surpass Japan in 2025 to become a "super ageing society." That is, 20% of the population is over 65 years old. I am very concerned about the design issues of the elderly population and hope to propose a new type of old-age housing model in connection with social design.

The third World countries

It depends on the scales of projects.

To study the site and the users first.

When we empty ourselves, the work speaks for itself.

Technology doesn't play a big role when I design.

AutoCAD and Sketchup.

The ambient is prior to color and materials. When ambient changes, colors and materials will have different effects. The interaction will make people have different senses.

The detail about stair design and its construction technology.

I will hope to stay as long as possible to study how the design was done.

My professor Dr. Hsieh in the university.

Keep traveling.

Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci.

It is really not easy for a studio designer.

White, home, fish, fall, TI(it is my design brand)

I live everyday as the last day.

I don't think so.

My design studio is based in Taipei. The projects locate in China, Taiwan and H.K.

For me, design is to improve the relationship between people and objects.There is nothing that can’t be designed and there is always room for improvement.

Anything. But I'm more concerned about public space designs.

I visited Lunuganga in Sri Lanka designed by Geoffrey Bawa this Spring. The continuous scenes flow with objects, nature and time, which impressed me very much. It is an excellent relation between person and architecture in the nature world.

A private apartment.

I used to love the metal’s characteristics. Now I am fascinated by fabric and leather.

After alengthoftime of rehabilitation. Sometimes it could be a travel, a retreat or a just a break.

The users. Architectural interior design is a human environmental psychology. The human behaviors and their senses affect each other tortuously. This is the aspect that I am used to spend more time in when designing.

It’s a combination of pain and happiness.

A sense of accomplishment.

I believe when the design gets the achievement of truth, excellence and then beauty, it will be successful. And this is the right order.

Truthfulness to the design is always first priority. The originality is not supposed to be ignored and twisted. Rather, all the unnecessary intentions are supposed to be put away.

When respect the physical condition of a project, we can save energy as much as possible. When face and restructure the real needs of users, we will not over-design. If we can do it with materials from cradle to cradle, better. Ｔhe highest level is to propose systematic plans from the perspective of social design by crossover cooperation with different professions. Sometimes the best design is invisible.

There is no limitation on the theme. There is nothing that can’t be designed. We can pursue the advancement of science and technology but all the intensions must be humble. Designers must respect the ethics of the world.

I respect the original quality of the existing ‘people, time, object, place, theme’ in the project. I spend time in observing all of them and seeing the interaction of each other. Then I create. The design is generated.

I have no specific style. The designer needs to implement “character” above “style”.

I come from Taiwan. This island has inherited the traditions of Chinese culture and has also been colonized by many countries. It seems open here to absorb different information quickly, but what the "Taiwanese style" is still not clearly defined. For me, it is not a problem. As long as we fully respect the specific essences and rational conditions of each projects, design has no “style” issue.

To be a good designer, one does not only know the clients by eyes/ears, but understands them by brains, and even more loves them by heart. When a client selects a designer to work with, s/he must take this character into account besides the professional ability.

1. Alfi thermos 2. La Cocotte Staub 3. Fellow-Stagg swan neck kettle4. Fuji Royal R220 grinder5.Dyson hair Dryer

As a personal studio designer, I can arrange my time flexibly. I usually do exercise for half to one hour, then make a brunch and enjoy it slowly. After that I start the day's work. When feeling tired, I will go out to for a movie or an exhibition, or just get together with friends. After I am home again, I will keep working if I am in the mood. Before the end of the day, I am used to meditate and then do acupuncture for myself to get deep rest mentally and physically.

Always redefine what you see and what you hear.

When we empty ourselves, the work speaks for itself.

Ability of observation and skill of sketch.

Sketch books, pens, pencils, crayon, watercolor, CAD.

As a senior designer, I don’t spend time fixed in front of the computer. I can do design efficiently as long as I am concentrated. Sometimes when I am commuting or in the coffee shop.

It depends on the scales of the projects.

“Is your home beautiful?”

Besides being a designer, I used to be an editor, a farmer, and a street magazine circulation director at the same time. To keep curious about unknown and to keep learning is my life Philosophy.

I am always interested in designing of variety types of projects I have never done before.

Taiwan will surpass Japan in 2025 to become a "super ageing society." That is, 20% of the population is over 65 years old. I am very concerned about the design issues of the elderly population and hope to propose a new type of old-age housing model in connection with social design.

By myself.

Via email: peilunli2007@gmail.com