Quiet Boundary Fa'atulagaina o le Fale Nofoia i Totonu by Po Chuan Kao

Quiet Boundary Fa'atulagaina o le Fale Nofoia i Totonu by Po Chuan Kao is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award Apamemea in Mamanu Totonu Competition Category.

ApamemeaTotonu· 2025

Quiet Boundary Fa'atulagaina o le Fale Nofoia i Totonu

by Po Chuan Kao

Client: ACG Design International

A' Design Award Apamemea Winner in Totonu Category

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Verified Award Winner

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Quiet Boundary Fa'atulagaina o le Fale Nofoia i Totonu

Tuaoi Filemu ose fa'atulagaga o totonu o se fale nofoia mo se fale mautotogi e 109 mita sikuea le lautele i Taiwan. O le fale e iai ni potumoe se lua, potu malolo, potu 'ai, umukuka ma faletaele se lua. O se fa'avaa faitoto'a ma'a fa'atagata e toe fa'amatalaina ai le sootaga i le va o le faitoto'a ulufale, umukuka ma le potu 'ai, e fa'atumauina ai le malamalama fa'anatura ao vavaeeseina fo'i vaega. O puipui e fa'amaeaina lima i vali maila fa'aoso mai fafo i lanu efuefu filemu. O le potumoe autu e tu i tua o se puipui efuefu ma o lo'o iai se faaluga taufaasee. O se sofa e mafai ona fa'aoga i itu e lua e fa'atumauina ai le tafe malolosi o le savaliga i totonu.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Apamemea

O le A' Design Award Apamemea na manumalo ai Quiet Boundary Fa'atulagaina o le Fale Nofoia i Totonu, 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 Quiet Boundary Fa'atulagaina o le Fale Nofoia i Totonu 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. Quiet Boundary Fa'atulagaina o le Fale Nofoia i Totonu 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: This project challenges the 'less is more' trend, focusing instead on creating a home that addresses the needs and desires of the occupants. The entrance area was restored first, and a sculptural stone door frame was added to redefine the relationship between the entrance, kitchen, and dining room. This maintains light while establishing clear circulation and separate spaces, creating a sense of calm. The master bedroom, hidden behind a gray wall, is bathed in natural light. A sloping ceiling adds an airy, vacation-like feel to the space.
Dimensions & Packaging: The site is a new apartment with a total area of 109 square meters, featuring 2 bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, 2 bathrooms, and a kitchen. In Taiwan's current housing market, kitchens are often positioned near the entrance, forming a circulation path with the rear balcony. Unlike traditional layouts where kitchens are placed at the back, this project positions the kitchen at the front, making the spatial flow between the entrance, kitchen, and dining room critical. Additionally, the two-way sofa in the living room can be staggered or stacked along the circulation route, ensuring both functional adaptability and spatial fluidity.
Tags: Dark tone, additive principle, spatial connection, calm atmosphere, natural lighting.
Production Technology: Materials: iron parts, titanium-plated baking paint, glass, imported mineral paint, imported tiles, imported wood flooring, marble, etc.
The gray base emphasizes modernity. Hand-colored with imported mineral paints, its unique rendering technique adds a sense of calm and elegance. Each wall is a work of art. The transitions between colors are natural and harmonious, providing the occupants with a serene yet subtle visual experience.
Design Challenge: The original layout was different from that commonly found in Taiwan. The entrance is connected to the dining room and kitchen, rather than the living room which is the centerpiece of family life. The designers needed to create a clear demarcation within the existing layout. Setting up a 'relay station' in the space balances the core. This approach achieves visual and functional continuity between functional areas, while maintaining openness and fluid circulation, resulting in an intuitive and aesthetically pleasing home.
Research: The project, 'Quiet Boundary,' represents a thoughtful approach to spatial demarcation. Using inverse thinking and subtle design, the designers created a home with depth and layering. In the dark modern aesthetic, spatial connections enhance the depth of field while emphasizing family interaction. The 'addition' principle redefines the entrance, kitchen, and dining area, maintaining order while allowing natural light to flow. In the master bedroom, a window-length sofa offers storage and a cozy sitting area, inviting residents to relax and enjoy the view.
Inspiration: The site is a new apartment. The overall design is based on the theme of calmness, to convey depth and privacy. The designers conveyed the core concept through inversion and subtlety in an attempt to create a design with depth and layers. In a dark modern space, the connections between areas create depth of field and position the function and role of 'home'. The project emphasizes the interaction and communication between family members and achieves a design that is both modern and fulfills the needs of family living.
Project Duration: The project finished in January 2024 in Taiwan.
Operation Flow: The family is very satisfied with the perfect balance between openness and seclusion, especially the view of the mountains and rivers from the windows with the spacious interior. The two-way sofa allows for smooth circulation. On a psychological level, the different shades of gray make it more appealing and comfortable, thus achieving a stress-relieving effect.
Team Members: Po Chuan Kao
Image Credits: ACG Design International