2025 | Professional
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Located in Shiding, New Taipei, this contemporary Taoist temple is a spiritual sanctuary reimagined through minimalist architecture. Designed to honor Guan Sheng Di Jun—the Taoist deity of loyalty and righteousness—the project explores how light, space, and material can translate traditional cosmology into a deeply emotional, modern experience.
The design draws from Taoist metaphysics, especially the concepts of Wu Ji (emptiness), Tai Ji (duality), and the Bagua (eight trigrams). These ideas are embedded within the temple's vertical progression. Four levels guide visitors from grounding to transcendence: the second-floor main hall represents “Center,” the third-floor altar reflects “Rebirth,” and the top floor embodies “First Sprout”—a poetic metaphor for spiritual awakening.
The main sanctuary features a monolithic volume, anchored by a custom-carved Nine-Dragon marble wall that pays homage to ancient temple iconography. A 5.5-meter-high ceiling and central glass dome allow natural light to shift with time, animating the sacred space in subtle rhythms. The result is both solemn and serene, where divinity is expressed through stillness.
Light is treated not merely as illumination but as a spiritual medium. Indirect LED strips, embedded skylights, and diffuse surfaces create layers of visual calm. Materials were chosen for their symbolic weight and sensory clarity: Italian-imported tiles, titanium-coated metal, ripple panels, marble, and insulated glass define the space with refined restraint. Every finish speaks to balance—between old and new, solid and void, permanence and change.
Despite structural constraints such as low ceilings and limited floor heights, the design achieves visual openness and sacred order. Curved geometries, hidden altars, and concealed cabinetry resolve practical needs without compromising spiritual purity. Circulation flows intuitively, encouraging quiet contemplation at every turn.
Sustainability was integral from the start. Natural ventilation, low-emission materials, and high-efficiency LED systems minimize energy use while enhancing well-being. This ensures the building’s spiritual and environmental integrity over time.
Ultimately, the temple is a contemporary vessel for timeless values. Rather than replicate traditional forms, it channels their essence—transforming architecture into a ritual of light, space, and inner clarity. It offers a place not only for prayer but for peace.
Credits
Entrant Company
Foshan Mingzhi Household Products Co., Ltd.
Category
Product Design - Tools
Entrant Company
João Demele
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Product Design - Furnishings
Entrant Company
LuXun Academy of Fine Arts
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Conceptual Design - Products
Entrant Company
Chen Yu interior decoration Ltd.
Category
Interior Design - Beauty Salon