Uncover The Light: A Harmonious Blend of Shadow and Solace

Yao-Cheng Tseng Crafts a Residence of Contrasting Tones

The challenge of merging two distinct preferences for color within a family's living space has led to the creation of "Uncover The Light," a residence where the interplay of light and material takes center stage. The design team, led by Yao-Cheng Tseng, has ingeniously utilized wood grain to delineate spaces, while lines, louvers, and grilles become the primary storytellers of this domestic narrative. The staircase serves as a physical and aesthetic transition, harmonizing the darker and lighter tones favored by the male and female clients respectively.

What sets "Uncover The Light" apart is its innovative use of grilles and lighting. Eschewing the conventional, the design team has orchestrated the grilles in an irregular pattern across the ceiling, creating a captivating display of lines and shadows. This approach not only adds visual interest but also transforms the space's severe Western exposure from a drawback into a design highlight, with adjustable blinds allowing for a dynamic interplay of light and shadow.

The material palette is a testament to the project's uniqueness, featuring titanium-plated chiseled panels, marble, and wood, among others. The tactile, chiseled metal surfaces juxtapose the wood grain, offering a handmade warmth that contrasts with the metal's inherent coolness. These materials are strategically placed to accentuate areas such as hallways and storage cabinets, elevating them to focal points within the home.

Spanning 181.5 square meters, the apartment includes three bedrooms, a living room, a dining area, three bathrooms, and a study. The social space is an open plan, where staggered ceiling grilles defy the traditional square layout, enhancing visual flow and addressing the challenge of a low ceiling height. This innovative ceiling design, coupled with the open floor plan, creates an illusion of spaciousness and grandeur, countering the constraints of the space.

The design's interaction with the occupants' lifestyle is evident in the kitchen island, which doubles as a ceremonial stage for culinary delights. Sophisticated linear lighting highlights the client's collection in the open cabinet, while the private quarters continue the grand theme with ample storage and luxurious amenities, including a double washbasin.

Completed in February 2023 in Taiwan, "Uncover The Light" is a design that celebrates the grandeur of natural lines and color blocks. The ceiling's grille pattern extends the space visually, while the integration of technology, such as a flagship TV set, ensures style consistency. The use of material textures, like marble stone patterns, adds an element of elegance, and larger beams are clad in wood veneer to soften their impact.

Overcoming the site's western exposure and low ceiling height was a significant challenge. Wooden louvers were installed to modulate sunlight effectively, while the design team's strategic use of lines and division of space amplified the sense of openness. The result is a home where daylight becomes a curated experience, and the daily rhythm is set by the neat interplay of light and shadow.

"Uncover The Light" has been recognized with a Silver A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2024, a testament to its exceptional design that skillfully navigates the constraints of space and light to create a harmonious and innovative living environment.