Co-Living · A Cat’s Vertical Routine

Located in Daya, Taichung, the 59.5 square meters apartment accommodates the daily life of two people and two cats. The male homeowner, an engineer, began spending more time at home after the pandemic. Sharing life with two American Shorthair cats became the starting point of the design concept. The homeowners favored a modern aesthetic with subtle industrial elements, yet without excessive masculinity. The designer established a cool gray base tone, complemented by iron details and concrete-like finishes. Rational structural beauty is preserved, while layered low-saturation materials introduce restrained warmth within a calm atmosphere.

The designer believes that “true co-living is not about sharing the space, but sharing sightlines.” The design therefore extends spatial thinking from horizontal to vertical. The project’s most significant feature lies in the low beam at the center of the living room, where the minimum clear height beneath it is 253 cm. Instead of concealing it, the design transforms it into the starting point of a vertical circulation path. Mirror-gray cladding and recessed ceiling layers reduce the sense of compression.

On the opposite side, the TV wall connects cabinetry tops with iron shelving, forming a corridor dedicated to the cats. Staggered shelves embedded between storage units function both as visual display and as jumping platforms. The cats’ running and resting become woven naturally into daily life. Cats observe from above; humans dwell below, separate yet always within sight. Gray walls serve as a quiet backdrop. Light pours in from the balcony, sliding across slatted panels and shelves. In the master bedroom, mineral-textured finishes are gently lifted by concealed lighting at night, resembling moonlight over a ridge. As evening falls, warm illumination softens the boundaries between floor, wall, and ceiling, layering daily life into shared stories.