The Sun House

Nature is the fundamental and inspirational source of organic architecture. Taiwan is a subtropical country with significant changes in the seasons and this smart house is accommodating to it.

The team has integrated into the design together with an energy reuse system, using solar photovoltaics, systematic energy monitoring equipment, water recycling systems and heat collection design to maximize the efficiency of all energy sources.

One of the design is for temperature regulation in different seasons and weather automatically. On the outside of the building, automatic curtains are used to set the duration of shading according to the seasons. Indoor, 1.5cm thick wooden curtains are used to insulate and keep the heat in. In winter, heat pump system takes place to draw hot air from external heat collection points into the interior for warmth. In summer, the heat is exhausted at the high point to cool the spaces. The indoor heat pump water heater is installed to produce hot water and also to provide air conditioning in spring and summer, and dehumidifier and dryer in fall and winter.

The roof and exterior walls are made of solar panels, and the 90% of the interior building materials are recycled cypress timbers. The design team recreated different sizes of discarded timber into ceilings, flooring, furniture, partitions and wall decorations, giving each recycled piece a new value in this space.

A wooden screen is used to separate the living room and the dining room in the public space on the ground floor, allowing the two spaces to have their own regional definition while allowing users in different areas to interact. The bar space on the second floor is designed with the use of the lever principle, and an extension table with rolling steel cables that can be raised and lowered.

Through the combination of various energy circulation systems and advanced technological equipment, the design integrates the principles of energy storage and circulation into life, making this house a sustainable building that can generate electricity and breathe, perfectly embodying the spirit of green architecture.