Grasp the Light Fusi le Malamalama by Hong-Yu Ou

Grasp the Light Fusi le Malamalama by Hong-Yu Ou is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 A' Design Award Apamemea in Mamanu Totonu Competition Category.

ApamemeaTotonu· 2022

Grasp the Light Fusi le Malamalama

by Hong-Yu Ou

Client: OY Interior Design

A' Design Award Apamemea Winner in Totonu Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #136564

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Grasp the Light Fusi le Malamalama

O le Fusi le Malamalama o se fuafuaga fale i totonu na faʻamaeʻaina i Taiuani mo se fale e fasefulu tausaga le matua. O le fale vaapiapi ma le umi sa pogisa ma le leaga o le savili, o lea na faaopoopo ai se taualuga tioata e faʻaulu mai ai le malamalama o le aso i totonu. O se puipui tusi laupapa maʻoloʻolo e mulimuli i le faʻavaa taualuga ekalesia ma faʻaloaloa atu i le fogafale muamua, lea e suia ai laupapa faʻasitepu tioata ma faʻavaa uʻamea i laupapa faʻasitepu muamua. O kapoti i itu uma e vaevaeina ai vaega nai lo puipui teuteu, ma faʻatumauina ai le avanoa e tatala. O se faasalalauga i le fogafale lua e fesoʻotaʻi ai le fale i le fale mataʻutia e tuaoi ai, lea e nonofo ai aiga. E faʻaogaina foʻi laupapa cedar, cypress, maʻa granite ma piliki.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Apamemea

O le A' Design Award Apamemea na manumalo ai Grasp the Light Fusi le Malamalama, o se faamaoniga matuā mamalu e tuuina atu i mamanu ese e iloga i le fatufatuaʻi, le atamai ma le poto. O ē manumalo i le Apamemea o mea e iai le tomai atoa ma fatufatuaʻi mataʻina e faamaonia ai le poto masani tele, le mafaufau ma le atamai o tagata mamanu. E faamoemoeina Grasp the Light Fusi le Malamalama e avea ma mea e vivii tele, ua pelepelea, e iloga i le tomai faapolofesa ma mea fou. O lenei mamanu na manumalo i le A' Design Award Apamemea e tuufaatasia ai faiga sili i le faatufugaga, saienisi, mamanu ma tekonolosi ma e sili ona lelei i le mataituina o mea itiiti. Grasp the Light Fusi le Malamalama e faamalieina matagofie manaʻoga, pa i manaʻo, faalataina lagona ma faaosofia le fia iloa.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: The features of this project include the glass-made rooftop that solved the initial lack-of-brightness issue and the hallway set up on the high second floor as a connection to the villa next door, where relatives of the users live in. At the same time, the cathedral ceilings on the 2nd floor are placed with a book wall made of solid wood; it not only draws attention but is also extended towards the first floor to pair with the steel frames and glass treads. Overall delivers high transparency and functionality by eliminating the pressure brought by the original and traditional stairs.
Dimensions & Packaging: The actual size of the designed space is 75 pings, including: The 30-ping first floor (an entryway, a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, a study, a front yard, and a backyard). The 30-ping second floor (the leisure and workout area, the master bedroom, the master bathroom, a dressing room, and a working space). The 15-ping third floor (the secondary bedroom and a working space).
Tags: New purpose for old residences, long and narrow structure improvements, zen and simple, strengthen structural safety, transparent lighting residences.
Production Technology: Cedar, cypress, steel frames, granites, red bricks, and glass materials. While the glass mask on the roof has increased transparency, it has also occupied some space height. However, the designer set up cabinets on the two sides to maximize the overall space efficiency; the cabinets replaced typical partitions while dividing each area and are paired with ironware and glass-made bricks to increase transparency. Furthermore, a hallway is designed to allow users to easily visit their relatives who live next door, further increasing interaction between family members.
Design Challenge: The designer has boldly applied transparent materials on the roof to solve the poor ventilation and lighting conditions of the narrow and long old house. At the same time, stable and solid building materials are also applied to the exterior and structure to increase safety while creating an aesthetic sense. Moreover, gardening scenery is designed at the front yard; the greenery is further transformed into a part of the interior to give the residence a characteristics touch.
Research: The house client, an engineer with two daughters, hoped the 40-year-old building could be redecorated to give the family a more suitable living environment. Hence, the designer designed the space in a low-key manner; architectural concrete and washed finish in greyscales are applied on the exterior, while the solid-wood-made doors have given the space a heart-warming feeling. Whilst a farming area is set up in the garden, the configuration of the 2.5th floor has satisfied all members expectations for living.
Inspiration: The 40-year-old house is redecorated with a washed finish, granite, and architectural concrete on the exterior, with red bricks, cedar, and cypress paved on the inside. Meanwhile, steel frames and glass materials are also used to create a Zen-like minimal style. Since the structure is narrow and long, which gives disadvantages of gloomy and poor ventilation conditions, the designer opened up the ceiling to draw natural lightings to increase brightness at any time of the day. While users can enjoy the sky scenery, the adjustments have also increased transparency and ventilation for the living space.
Project Duration: The project finished in May 2018 in Taiwan.
Operation Flow: The designer first applied transparent materials and an open-end method to improve the initial issues of the old building, giving the household of four a relaxing and rustic living environment. Meanwhile, since the space is narrow and long, the hollowed display-type screen next to the living room staircase is made of ironware and wood materials to maintain a sense of transparency. The elegant-styled interior is also equipped with cabinets that reach the cathedral ceilings, allowing the user, who likes to read and collect books, to store and display the personal collections.
Team Members: HONG-YU OU, YU-JCHIAO CHUNG
Image Credits: OY Interior Design