Interviewe mat Paradox Studio

By looking back of my design life, I realized that I have been in design field for more than half of my life. I started my professional training as an interior design student in Taiwan since I was 15. Continuing my BFA degree in environmental design department, Parsons New York and completed my Master of Architecture Degree from Columbia University. Been interned in Rafael Vinoly’s office during my Columbia year and started my first job in Pei Partnership Architects, participated Suzhou Museum during my practice in PPA. After moving back to Asia, I participated different scale of architectural projects, i.e. office and residential building in china for 5 years and also be a college lecturer for 3 years during my practice. In 2009, I started my own fashion brand “OPUS” and interior design firm “Paradox Studio” in 2009. OPUS Shop is our debut work and had gained some attention over the world which had bring me into another interesting ride of my life.

When I was a kid, my father always brought back some mini furniture sets as gift when he travel aboard. I love to play with them and tried out all different kind of layout. Therefore, when I reach the point to make a decision for my future, it didn’t take me too long to choose this profession.

For me, as an interior designer, realized what client need is the first thing to start the project. Then I will analyze the project from all different aspects whatever related to it. After scanning and analyzing all the materials, there will be a few design solutions been given out to client. That’s the base I start the design, from that, digital 3D modeling and detail shop drawings all help to enrich the design. Discussion with construction team is also a great help and an important step to bring the design come to reality.

Frankly, I enjoy every phase of design, i.e. the first encounter, struggle to find inspiration or the time when it completed. But the most fulfilling moment is when find out a perfect design solution after not giving up trying.

I think the detail-observing ability really helps me on my design practice. It first brought me to gather many possibility of design, then help me to refine the design by pick out the problems for improvement.

It really is a good question, most of my recent projects are interior or furniture works. I wish I have more opportunity to participate the project that engage with large group of people and make more contribution to society.

I don’t particularly have advice for young designers, I believe every adventure in their career is the necessary nutrition, which will benefit themselves in the particular moment of their life.

One thing I have learned along the way and always try to keep in mind is to keep yourself in good condition. With clear mind and healthy body, we will have more chance to be inspired and decreased the chance for making wrong decision. And of course this advice could also apply on everything in life.

Like most of the designers, my day usually starts with a good coffee and a hot shower to fresh up the mind and body. Start with people I work with then back for my own work. Job-site and desk-work intertwined which is a good pattern for a Gemini mind like me, keeps me feeling alive.

I think it’s important to be aware the trend because it reflects our culture at the time and helps to connect to people’s life. But we also need to maintain the core value of our design. Once the central value of own design is firmed, those trend will become a helpful force to sharpen our design.

A good design is a good solution to solve problem with rational evaluation and aesthetic skill.

For me to define whether the design is completed, is based on the relationship between user and the design object. When the user’s status and need is changed, design could be altered or elevated into another stage, a continuous evolving life form.

My personally favorite project is “OPUS Shop”, the debut work of Paradox Studio. The pure joy of developing a simple idea into diverse space with straight forward execution, really was a satisfying experience for me. And yet this simple idea has gone far to reach people’s mind, speak the story, that really touches me. The Shop was merely 10 sqm, a former garage space. How to solve the limitation of small space, creates different theme walls to fulfill different display purpose, yet those 3 walls together forms an illusional effect to broaden the shop space. This joyful design adventure truly is the memorable experience of my life.

Zaha hadid is my favorite architect. She was dare to reach far and determined enough to bring her visionary idea into reality. Make it happened and for people to see and experience her vision.

I think my crossing-culture education and profession experience has made a big impact as who I am now. I don’t particularly feel I was limited within the city I am living in. My world is embedded with all different culture factors. When I was working on the drawing, I often turn on the radio from all over the world, creating the virtual space matrix audibly. Music is the perfume of the space, transform and transport people instantly.

Our Studio is started by me and my partner who is also an architect. Our firm wish to focus on both architectural and interior design aspects. Therefore, we wish our coworkers focus on not only design or decoration level, but to look further into the relationship of people and space.

Sharing professional and life experience with youngster, wish there are more opportunity to join design communities and gather more design force for making bigger contribution to the world.

We really have a great experience participating A’ Design Award. From the beginning as filing the application, each questions has brought us to review our project from all aspects, make us to rethink design process. And when we have questions regarding to the apply process, all the questions were speedily responded with kindness.

Furthermore, we are really amazed to see our works had been exposed on all different kind of media in different countries, which had brought us to been seen by people that we never have chance to be encountered with. And the media exposure span is surprising long, we were so happily to receive media notification even 9 month after winning the award. The great A’design award experience had brought us back whenever we have a great project wanted to share with the world. Because we know A’design will be the great platform for us to share the work and help us to reach further. Thank you, A’design.

The centered elevator core organizes the entire floor plan into a fluid circulation loop. Upon exiting the elevator, the layout naturally divides into two distinct wings.One wing is dedicated to the parents and their two children, where a study room serves as a transitional anchor to thread their private quarters into a cohesive family space. The opposite wing accommodates the grandparents, integrating the living and dining areas to naturally become the gathering hub for collective family interaction.This intentional configuration beautifully fosters a rich multi-generational living experience while ensuring spatial autonomy and absolute privacy for each generation.

The serene ambience of the earthy palette provides psychological tranquility, while smart home technology ensures a fluid and frictionless living experience. Rather than opposing each other, these two elements perfectly complement each other.This integration fosters a profound sense of inner peace that allows the owners to navigate their daily routines with a grounded mind, allowing their daily life and work to unfold with absolute harmony and creative clarity.

Due to the strategic layout of the centered elevator core, we wanted to immediately guide guests toward the reception and living areas the moment they arrive. To achieve this, we developed the 180-degree rotating door as an elegant screening mechanism. During guest visits, the door can be positioned to gently redirect the circulation, private family quarters from public view.Conversely, during the family's private, multi-generational daily routines, the door can be rotated fully open to maintain the seamless, loop-shaped living circulation. This feature successfully evolves from a functional boundary into a dynamic architectural statement that balances hospitality with domestic privacy.

Thank you for recognizing the deliberate layout of these spaces. My core philosophy centered on exploring the delicate equilibrium between spatial intimacy and individual independence within a home. I approached the design by carefully orchestrating the sequential relationships between public and private zones, understanding how the transition from one space profoundly influences the psychological experience of the next.Our ultimate goal was to compose diverse interactive backdrops for different family dynamics, while intentionally leaving flexible visual anchors and ambiguous gray spaces. This ensures that the home not only accommodates current daily rituals but also leaves room for spontaneous interactions and future spatial possibilities to unfold naturally over time.

The bronze titanium plating ceiling acts as the architectural spine of the entire home, maintaining an essential sense of structural and psychological stability throughout the layout. Functionally and visually, this linear axis serves as a powerful guiding element that brilliantly resolves the physical constraint of the building’s narrow entrance.By running continuously from the entryway to the living room, it unified these distinct areas, drawing the eye forward and creating an expansive effect of spatial extension. This design element ensures that the daily flow of the residents is both structured and seamlessly elevated from the moment they step inside.

Casa Calma is located near a hot spring area, which naturally comes with higher ambient humidity. We specifically chose the Italian Cebos mineral coating because of its exceptional performance in regulating indoor humidity, effectively transforming the walls into a "breathing surface" that adapts to the local climate.Beyond its functional excellence, the material’s organic texture and rich visual depth bring an unrefined, natural serenity indoors. This unique tactile dimension heightens the sensory experience, enveloping the residents in a space that feels deeply grounded, calming, and connected to nature.

Because the owner shared details of their extensive art collection at the very beginning of the project, we were able to weave these pieces into the foundational blueprint of the home. Instead of treating the corridor as a mere transitional pathway, we designed strategic spatial nodes that naturally encourage residents and guests to pause and reflect.By thoughtfully integrating these art-viewing moments with the adjacent living areas, the collection becomes an active participant in the daily domestic experience. The corridor effectively transforms into a dynamic home gallery where art and daily life seamlessly converse with one another.

The Lego display cabinet was intentionally placed as the main visual anchor at the end of the circulation path. Since this residence is nestled by the mountainside with panoramic views of the blue sky and lush greenery, we wanted to bridge the boundary between the interior and the exterior.By selecting a forest green for the cabinet, we successfully invited the vibrant natural palette indoors. Framed against the soft white mineral coating of the walls, this striking transition mimics the layers of the surrounding landscape, allowing the residence to harmonize deeply with its natural environment.

When the pandemic initially struck, the construction had already progressed through its first third. The primary challenge we faced was the complex coordination and scheduling of various sub-contractors on-site due to health and safety restrictions.However, we chose to embrace the unexpected extension of the timeline as an opportunity. The additional time gave us a valuable window to slow down and execute meticulous, finely-detailed adjustments. This extra breathing room ultimately allowed our craftsmanship to reach a higher level of precision and refinement that would have been difficult to achieve under normal, rushed circumstances.

The double-height terrace acts as a grand light well, drawing abundant natural illumination deep into the living room. More importantly, this sculptural volume transforms the area into a captivating stage where the ever-changing theatricality of daily daylight can perform.The relationship between the interior and exterior was a guiding thesis for this entire project. Our design intent was to frame the surrounding mountain views so they become living scenery viewed from within, blurring the boundary between nature and the home. By successfully inviting the vastness of the landscape indoors, the space creates a profound psychological release—truly embodying the essence of its name, Casa Calma, by beautifully expanding the mind and spirit of everyone who resides here.