Hide and Climb: A New Generation Residence

Transforming Living Spaces with Innovative Design and Flexibility

As cities expand and populations increase, the concept of a dwelling is evolving. Traditional functions such as offices, schools, libraries, playgrounds, and restaurants are shrinking and converging, creating a need for residences that can adapt to the changing desires of their inhabitants. "Hide and Climb" meets this need by incorporating various activities, including rock climbing, into its design, while still maintaining traditional functions like a kitchen, dining area, and bedrooms.

The design's unique properties lie in its flexibility and adaptability. The space can adjust according to the child's growth, with a tree house design that provides ample room for children to play and can later transform into a wardrobe as the children grow into teenagers. This innovative design not only maximizes the use of space but also ensures that the home remains a warm and cozy place, regardless of its evolving functions.

Birch plywood is the primary material used in the construction of "Hide and Climb," which spans 110 square meters. The project took three months to design and six months to construct, completed in the summer of 2019 in Taipei, Taiwan. The design team, including Maggie Yang, Jimmy Yung, and Tina Liao, faced the challenge of designing sports facilities that could be integrated with the space. They achieved this by matching materials and colors and extending the organic shape of the climbing wall to unify the pattern of the entire space.

Research shows that climbing can help children's development in many ways, promoting physical coordination, flexibility, responsiveness, and spatial awareness. It also encourages repeated attempts and perseverance, laying the foundation for personal struggle spirit when they grow up. "Hide and Climb" incorporates this activity into its design, making it not just a residence, but also a tool for children's development.

"Hide and Climb" has been recognized for its innovative design, winning the Golden A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2020. This award is given to outstanding creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom, advance art, science, design, and technology, and significantly impact the world with their desirable characteristics. With its unique design and flexibility, "Hide and Climb" truly embodies these qualities.