Under the Bodhi Tree: A Harmonious Blend of Spirituality and Design

Joyce Yi-Ching Yang's Award-Winning Residential Apartment Design Inspired by Buddha's Enlightenment

Yang's design draws its inspiration from the Buddha's enlightenment, with calmness, simplicity, and openness serving as the guiding principles. The design explores the interdependence between the spiritual and the material, the inside and the outside, and the natural environment and the concept of home. The earthy color palette not only imparts a timeless character to the space but also blurs the lines between the home and the natural environment. These colors and materials reveal the elegance that lies in simplicity.

The unique properties of this design lie in its use of three elements: brass, wood, and black. Unnecessary partition walls were replaced with furniture and screens to enlarge the living room space while differentiating its various functions. The Buddha hall, minimalist and monolithic, exudes a warm aura, inviting people into the space. Surrounded by natural elements, the occupant might feel as though they are witnessing the Buddha achieving enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.

Wood plays a key role in this project, adorning walls, ceilings, and floors with three-dimensional structures, creating a sense of consistency and depth. The untamed lines running through every panel of wood are unique, akin to fingerprints, as if handcrafted by Mother Nature herself. This project covers an internal space totaling 114 square meters, excluding balconies, and comprises an entry corridor, living room, dining room, one bedroom, one bathroom, one guest toilet, and a sky outdoor garden.

The interaction with the design is a sensory experience. The predominantly wooden interior creates an atmosphere filled with wonder, enchantment, and warmth. The consistent use of material creates dimension and depth, with natural wooden texture direction and tone gradient. This continual flow creates frame openings, drawing the occupant's attention to the detail found in the interior and its landscape, without being overly imposing.

The project, which started in September 2020 and completed in December 2020 in Taichung, Taiwan, faced challenges in revealing the beauty of natural materials and letting the elegance of the stunning spatial layout speak for itself. However, the earthy color palette not only brought a timeless character to the space but also blurred the lines between the home and the natural environment. The design was awarded Silver in A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2022, a testament to its outstanding expertise and innovation.

In conclusion, "Under the Bodhi Tree" is more than just a residential apartment design; it's a harmonious blend of spirituality and design. It's a testament to Joyce Yi-Ching Yang's ability to transform a space into a spiritual sanctuary, a place where one can feel at home and at peace with nature. This design is a reminder that simplicity and openness can lead to a sense of calmness and enlightenment, just as Buddha found under the Bodhi tree.