Symbiosis Cat House 住宅建筑 by Jimmy Yung is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award 银奖 in 建筑与结构设计 Competition Category.

银建筑· 2026

Symbiosis Cat House 住宅建筑

by Jimmy Yung

Client: Happystudio

A' Design Award 银奖 Winner in 建筑 Category

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Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #177448

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

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The Design

About Symbiosis Cat House 住宅建筑

共生猫舍是一座为狭窄城市地块设计的住宅建筑。这栋四层住宅让过敏人群与猫咪得以共同生活。垂直分区策略将动物活动区域与人的居住区域相互分离。中央中庭形成被动式烟囱效应,无需依赖庞大的机械系统即可排除过敏原。猫砂区域配设专用排风装置。无涂层混凝土、清水砖砌墙面与穿孔金属踏板有效减少了灰尘积聚与化学物质释放。楼梯旁矗立着一座猫爬塔,使家庭成员在视觉上始终保持联系。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 银奖

Symbiosis Cat House 住宅建筑是 A' Design Award 银奖得主，这是授予顶级、华美而令人印象深刻的设计的极为崇高的认可。银奖得主是极其卓越、极具创造力的作品，展现出其设计师杰出的专业技能、才华与敏锐。预计Symbiosis Cat House 住宅建筑将成为一件出色的典范之作，兼具非凡的专业性与深刻的创新性。这件赢得 A' Design Award 银奖的设计是一项备受瞩目、令人钦佩的发明，造福并拓展艺术、科学、设计和技术的边界。Symbiosis Cat House 住宅建筑是一件令人羡慕的创作，它唤起渴望，带来积极的情感，并激发惊叹与赞叹。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: This narrow row house utilizes a vertical zoning strategy to resolve the paradox of density and hygiene. Key features include a stepped setback profile to ensure future adaptability against high rise developments and a dual loop circulation system. The house functions as a metabolic organ, employing a central atrium to drive a stack effect that continuously purges allergens. This ensures that the living environment remains clear without reliance on heavy mechanical systems.
Dimensions & Packaging: The building dimensions are Width 5100 mm by Depth 17050 mm by Height 9700 mm. It occupies a site area of 90 square meters with a total floor area of 250 square meters across four floors. Structural components include uncoated concrete, fair faced brickwork, and perforated metal panels. A central vertical atrium provides passive ventilation while localized exhaust systems manage air quality.
Tags: Residential Architecture, Micro Housing, Hypoallergenic Design, Passive Ventilation, Vertical Zoning, Interspecies Living, CFD Simulation, Brutalism, Pet Friendly Architecture
Production Technology: The construction employs a low maintenance and hypoallergenic material strategy. Fair faced brickwork with calibrated porosity creates a breathing skin for natural air filtration. Uncoated concrete and perforated metal treads minimize the emission of chemical compounds and prevent the accumulation of dander. Aero acoustic zoning utilizes localized negative pressure at litter zones via dedicated mechanical exhaust to ensure high air quality in human zones.
Design Challenge: The primary challenge was reconciling strict biological isolation with visual intimacy on a narrow site. The design had to anticipate future urban density while ensuring the interior remained breathable. Engineering a passive stack effect to isolate dander without extensive use of HVAC systems was the technical peak. The design balances private health requirements with public aesthetic value, proving that rigorous functional needs can yield a rhythmic living environment.
Research: Applied Architectural Research. Objectives included the optimization of health for multiple species in high density settings. Methodology involved spatial mapping and airflow simulation using CFD modeling tools. Participants included a family with severe allergies and two felines. Results showed a ninety five percent reduction in the spread of allergens via vertical zoning. Insights confirm that health is a spatial mechanism. This creates a replicable and neuro inclusive model.
Inspiration: The project originates from a critical conflict between respiratory health and the need for interspecies companionship in dense urban areas. The objective was to demonstrate that biological well being and domestic life can be integrated through spatial innovation. By scaling the internal volume to match the vertical requirements of felines, a nested system was created to protect the air quality for human inhabitants while ensuring freedom for animals.
Project Duration: The project started in January 2022 in Douliu City Taiwan and finished in 2024 in the same location.
Operation Flow: The house functions through a shared vertical journey. As family members walk up the stairs, cats climb up their own dedicated tower right beside them. Both paths rise in tandem around a central void to ensure constant visual and acoustic proximity. Key moments include watching companions move across the atrium or hearing them through light filters while the air remains fresh. This design succeeds by protecting the health of every inhabitant while keeping the emotional bond of the household intact.
Team Members: Design Director: Jimmy Yung
Designer: Tina Liao
Image Credits: All Images: Photographer Yi-Hsien Lee