Lee Chi Yuan's Time Capsule: A Homage to Memories

Iron A' Design Award Winner Merges Past and Future

The Time Capsule project by Lee Chi Yuan stands as a testament to the power of memories and history in shaping our living spaces. The design, which has earned the Iron A' Design Award, is a residential masterpiece that seamlessly integrates vintage elements with contemporary living. The interior is a narrative-rich environment, featuring antique furniture and artworks that tell stories of different times and places, including pieces created by the owner's daughter.

At the heart of the Time Capsule is the study, a semi-open space that serves as the focal point of the public area. Its innovative use of materials, including see-through glass and a wooden sliding door, allows for sunlight to permeate the space and offers dynamic views that connect the living room with the dining and kitchen areas. The inclusion of a classic Finn Juhl FAUTEUIL MODEL 1 chair by the window invites residents to bask in the afternoon sun, further enhancing the living experience.

The design's realization technology is equally impressive, with walls coated in natural white clay that evoke memories of childhood mud houses. The grained texture and hand-painted lines add to the home's warmth, while weathered cypress window sills complement the artistic driftwood plantings on the walls. This attention to detail and materiality contributes to the Time Capsule's unique ambiance.

Lee Chi Yuan's design spans 854 sqft and is a harmonious blend of Zen philosophy and Taiwanese cultural elements. The interior design not only serves as a living space but also operates as a sanctuary for the mind, with each object and arrangement playing a role in the narrative of the owner's life. The study, with its faux natural tree branches and Japanese tatami couch, offers a peaceful retreat that is both original and simple.

Overcoming creative and technical challenges, the design team has skillfully integrated the daughter's artistic creations within the withered wood shelves, creating a serene end view that is both divine and delicate. The Time Capsule project, which began in March 2022 and concluded in October 2022 in Taipei, is a remarkable achievement in interior design, merging the passages of history with the trajectory of the future.

Photographer Lin Fu Ming has captured the essence of the Time Capsule in a series of images that highlight the intricate details and emotional depth of the design. Lee Chi Yuan's Time Capsule is not just a living space but a treasure chest of memories, artfully arranged to honor the past while embracing the future.