Shiho Chu's "Bi Wabisabi": A Nostalgic Micro Residence

Award-Winning Design Translates Travel Memories into Living Space

Shiho Chu, the creative director, and Kei Chou, the designer, embarked on the project in April 2019 in Taipei, Taiwan. The project, completed in September 2019, covers an area of 26 square meters. The design team focused on the element of time, revealing memories from the fourth dimension, deeply concealed in the owner's heart. This was transferred into a perfect living proportion in space, creating a unique and intimate environment.

The inspiration for "Bi Wabisabi" came from the owners' travel memories of Japan. To transfer this nostalgic emotion, the design team took advantage of the narrow, vertical height. A bookshelf designed to fill the space from floor to ceiling dominates the scene, reminding the owners of a memorable bookstore they adore in Japan.

Shiho Chu's design is unique in its focus on the fourth dimension of life - time. Rather than manipulating space, the design reveals the four dimensions naturally, allowing the owner to revisit treasured memories whenever they wish. The design poses the question, "Taipei? Tokyo? Showa? Reiwa?" and suggests an encounter of Showa in Reiwa.

The design is realized through a careful and reasonable division of space. The design team's priority was to translate the owners' travel memories into the design. The result is a micro residence that not only serves as a functional living space but also as a tangible representation of the owners' cherished memories.

"Bi Wabisabi" was awarded the Silver A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2021. This prestigious award is given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. These designs, admired for their strong technical characteristics and splendid artistic skill, showcase a remarkable level of excellence and introduce positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.