Ecru Caupona by Chia Yu Chan is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum in Designatio Interior Competition Category.

ArgentumInterior· 2024

Ecru Caupona

by Chia Yu Chan

Client: MI Interior Design

Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum Winner in Interior Category

25,024
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #157019

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Ecru Caupona

Ecru ex vocabulo Gallico "Ecru" originem trahit, colorem lini infecti designans. Caupona Ecru in Parte Orientali urbis Taipei sita experientiam cenandi tranquillam offerre conatur. Designatio vestibulo apud ingressum utitur ut a tumultu urbano ad tranquillitatem transitum efficiat, quod ad aream apertam cum culina aperta in centro positam ducit. Haec compositio artem coquendi in experientiam cenandi integrat, convivas sonis odoramentisque alliciens.

The Recognition

About the Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum

Ecru Caupona victor est Praemii A' Design Award Argenteum, honoris eximie amplissimi formis summi generis, pulchris et conspicuis dati. Victores Argenti opera valde splendida et creandi ingenio praedita sunt, quae praestantem peritiam, talentum et acumen auctorum suorum ostendunt. Exspectatur Ecru Caupona opus mirabile, exemplare, valde professionale et penitus novum fore. Haec forma Argento victa inventum notabile et admiratum est, quod ad fines artis, scientiae, formandi rationis et technologiae promovendos confert. Ecru Caupona creatio est, quam multi invident, quae cupiditates excitat, sensus bonos affert et admirationem miraculumque movet.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: The space retains the original cement texture, using stones and weathered wood for a connection with nature. Beige walls with textured paint, reminiscent of French plating art, create a warm ambiance. The tableware tells stories of the chef's memories with French cuisine.
Dimensions & Packaging: This project has a total area of 244 square meters, with a kitchen space of 40 square meters. The seating capacity is 30 people, including an 8-person private dining room and an underground wine cellar where guests can select wines to complement their meals. Additionally, there are two restrooms, three toilets, a staff office, and two storage rooms. Outdoors, there is a front courtyard occupying 34 square meters.
Tags: Natural，Ecru，Organic，Serene，Wood
Production Technology: In crafting a serene environment, we minimize artificial lighting and harness natural light through porch wall gaps and louvered curtains. Most light sources emanate from the ground, accentuating textures and enhancing the tranquil atmosphere. Stone elements combine marble with lightweight, eco-friendly biophilic PU stone for easy installation. Tables and tableware details showcase irregular shapes, embracing the organic concept.
Design Challenge: To create a calm and relaxed ambiance in the dining space, we've chosen a large area of beige paint with a mottled texture, giving a sense of tranquility and time settling. The texture resembles ceramic dishes' surface patterns, enhancing the visual appeal. The front of the open kitchen serves as the best viewing area, with recycled railway sleepers fixed without nails. The structures on both sides enhance stability and define the dining area in this open space.
Research: The concept of French cuisine sets the tone for our space. Rooted in selecting fresh, local ingredients based on region and season, French cooking emphasizes pure flavors through simple methods. It embodies the essence of Slow Food culture, where "slow" goes beyond savoring delicious meals. It's about taking time to genuinely appreciate the interrelation of food, land, and culture. This lifestyle prioritizes communication and interaction during meals.
Inspiration: French cuisine is all about fresh ingredients, simple cooking, and the chef's artistic presentation, reflecting an elegant and slow-paced lifestyle. Our brand is inspired by French dining culture, focusing on nature, simplicity, and organic elements. We use pure and tranquil materials, keeping things simple and allowing the true essence of the dishes to stand out.
Project Duration: This project was completed in September 2023 in Taipei, Taiwan, and officially opened in October 2023.
Operation Flow: Our goal is to create a relaxed and serene dining experience. The design incorporates a corridor at the entrance, initiating a transition in spatial perception from the city's hustle to tranquility. Following a path, the open area unfolds, with the focal point being the open kitchen at the bottom. This core area transforms the cooking process into part of the dining experience, with sounds of ingredient preparation and the aroma of dishes engaging diners from inside to out.