A Grasp of Natural Lights

Since the space is narrow and long, the kitchen and the dining room are set up with a long, solid-wood-made dining table; meanwhile, the bamboo materials on the area’s ceiling have also echoed with the rustic theme to deliver a heart-warming vibe. The kitchenware and storage space are designed on the two sides of the area, allowing users to pay more attention to the greenery outside the window while expanding the space visually. As for the sofa area of the living room, French windows are set up to increase transparency. The low-key and low-contrast architectural concrete and washed finish have brought out the vitality of the trees in the garden, allowing the users to profoundly experience the season changes while creating tight bonds with family. 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’s scenery, the adjustments have also increased transparency and ventilation for the living space. The transparent rooftop highlights this project; the bold and creative method has brought the old structure back to life. Since transparency is increased significantly, electricity for lightings during the day will be reduced. Meanwhile, the ventilation conditions are also improved to reduce carbon emissions while adjusting the temperature of the space. The structure is filled with natural and non-toxic materials to give the household members a carefree and healthy living environment.