The River is Everywhere: A Placid Place of Minimalist Design

Creating a Journey on the River for the Flow of Space

Upon entering a 200-square-meter apartment, the refined textures of the living room immediately captivate. The ceiling of the entryway has been remodeled to create a sleek curved line, while rhythm bores applied on partition walls elegantly layer across the space, reflecting the shadow of trees like scenes from a river. The wooden private space acts as a boundary between the rivers and caves, warmly inviting inhabitants.

The River is Everywhere, designed by Tsai-Yun Kao, Po-Chang Lin, and Kai-Hung Yang, is a unique and captivating project that seamlessly blends art, architecture, and design. Inspired by the features of geography, such as a river surrounded by the apartment and watercourses surrounding the site, the designers aimed to create a journey on the river for the flow of space.

Referencing the spiritual journey of self-discovery in the novel "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse, the designers adopted a minimalist language to convey the essence of the character's experiences. The most attractive aspect of the design is how it allows inhabitants to learn and experience through the river, just like the character in the book.

The strength and uniqueness of The River is Everywhere lie in its meticulous attention to detail and the use of natural materials. The designers have created an opportunity to experience the interior as a series of surfaces and textures, achieved through hand-crafted plaster and specialist trades. The space's open floor plan is enhanced by a tactile selection of materials, giving it a clean and bright quality.

One of the standout features of the design is the bespoke dining counter dominating the center of the space. Crafted from marble and plastic sheet inlaid with a curved shape mirror leg, this sculptural object reflects natural light and shadow movements, adding a touch of elegance and intrigue.

The River is Everywhere is not just a design project; it is an artful lesson on how to align comfort and simplicity. The designers have successfully transformed the concept of a river into visible objects within the space, creating a harmonious and serene environment for the inhabitants.

The project, which started in April 2020 in Taipei City and finished in May 2021, required extensive research and creative problem-solving. The designers had to overcome the challenge of balancing their minimalist vision with the local cultural expectations of using decorative elements in residential design. The result is a design that reconfigures and adapts design methods and materials to suit the needs of the local culture, creating a truly unique and captivating space.

The River is Everywhere has been recognized for its excellence and creativity, receiving the Bronze A' Design Award in 2022 for Interior Space, Retail, and Exhibition Design. This prestigious award is bestowed upon designs that exhibit strong technical and creative skills, contributing to quality of life improvements and making the world a better place.

Photographer Kyle Yu beautifully captures the essence of The River is Everywhere in the main image and optional images.