Chien Hao Tseng · CLIENT: CHT Architect and Partidesign Studio
Framed Sanctuary is a minimalist interior that transforms a 40 year old apartment into a calm, reflective living space. A 1.5 centimeter steel frame defines spatial boundaries without walls, allowing light and air to flow freely. Concrete, wood and monochrome tones enhance material contrast and sensory depth. The restructured layout improves daylight access, circulation and spatial clarity, with focus on framed views and daily rituals. The project emphasizes structure, emptiness and light to create a quiet yet engaging atmosphere in a dense urban setting.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This project reimagines a 40 year old apartment into a minimalist sanctuary. Monochrome materials black steel, concrete, and oak are integrated with precision, forming spaces that feel both structured and calm. Light flows through reconfigured openings, enhancing spatial clarity and emotional comfort. Without traditional partitions, the home invites reflection, reading and peaceful daily living through considered composition and material warmth.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The interior space covers 110 square meters. Key materials include 1.5 cm square steel frames, brushed concrete surfaces, oak wood flooring, and fluted tiles. The lightweight metal frame system is securely wall mounted and engineered to support heavy objects while maintaining a minimal visual presence.
- Tags
- Minimalist Interior, Adaptive Reuse, Steel Frame, Urban Apartment, Spatial Framing, Modern Zen, Monochrome Design, Daylight Optimization, Concrete and Wood, Taipei
- Production Technology
- The project required precise engineering to integrate steel, concrete, and wood with seamless connections. A 1.5 cm steel frame was custom fabricated to be lightweight yet load bearing. Wall integration, anchoring systems, and surface junctions were resolved through prototyping and testing. The outcome is a structure that supports both aesthetic clarity and technical reliability within a minimalist framework.
- Design Challenge
- The greatest challenge was integrating ultra-slim 1.5 cm steel frames that are both visually light and structurally strong. Achieving seamless connections between materials metal, concrete and wood required extensive prototyping. The project also overcame challenges in optimizing daylight within a poorly lit 40 year old layout, requiring total spatial reconfiguration under government renovation regulations.
- Project Duration
- The project began in November 2023 in Taipei, Taiwan, and was completed in July 2024 after eight months of structural redesign and interior construction.
- Operation Flow
- Residents move freely through the open plan living, kitchen, and reading areas. The space naturally guides the user through light, texture, and material transitions. Custom built elements such as the metal frames and furniture are positioned to define function zones without physical barriers, encouraging fluid, intuitive interaction.
- Research
- This design is based on applied design research aiming to transform old apartment layouts for modern minimalist living. Qualitative research included spatial behavior studies and lighting simulations. Physical prototypes and material stress tests were conducted to refine the metal framework. The result is a structurally optimized and visually calm environment, which promotes both spatial clarity and emotional well being. The research contributes to adaptive reuse practices in urban housing design.
- Inspiration
- Inspired by the Japanese concept of Ma, this project explores the balance between structure, emptiness, and light. Natural light becomes a compositional element, casting shifting shadows across raw concrete and warm wood. A 1.5 cm metal frame defines spatial boundaries without walls, while material transitions emphasize quiet beauty. The result is a spatial sanctuary where simplicity supports reflection and everyday rituals.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Architect / Photographer Chien Hao Tseng, Framed Sanctuary, 2024.
Image #2: Architect / Photographer Chien Hao Tseng, Framed Sanctuary, 2024.
Image #3: Architect / Photographer Chien Hao Tseng, Framed Sanctuary, 2024.
Image #4: Architect / Photographer Chien Hao Tseng, Framed Sanctuary, 2024.
Image #5: Architect / Photographer Chien Hao Tseng, Framed Sanctuary, 2024. - Patents
- Copyrights belong to CHT Architect and Partidesign Studio, 2024.
Press releases are available in 1 languages.