Grayscale Reversal

Redesigning a 40-Year-Old House for a New Beginning

Design Name: Grayscale Reversal

Designer: Tsai Yueh Ju

Design Labels: Home Design

Design Inspiration: After 40 years of wind and frost, the building gradually lost its brilliance. Through the redesign of the design team, the old house that bears many years of emotional memories of life can be given a new look. The old house is about to return the hostess to the old time of her childhood, and in another way to continue the feelings of the grandparents who have spanned four generations.

Design Unique Properties: This house was originally the house owner’s grandmother’s “starting house”, plus she had spent a period of childhood here, so she had a hard time giving it up... After the grandmother passed away, the house was handed to the grandmother’s most loving granddaughter. In order to allow this generational sentiment to continue for a long time, the owner's family decided to move back to this 40-year-old house to start a new life.

Design Realization Technology: The overall design incorporates Loft style, Japanese Zen style, and modern fashion features to express a warm, simple, and comfortable atmosphere.

Design Specifications: The space is based on humans to provide an interaction between watching and being seen. The open relationship between the living room and the dining room makes the dynamics of the occupants a source of observation. Through the expression of openness, a rich and lively change is performed, and the harmonious and harmonious atmosphere is diffused. The overall design makes the space no longer confined to a single purpose of use, and the multi-functional display of the use-oriented aspects.

Design Tags: Home

Design Team Members: Gakuju Tsai

Design Interaction: In order to give the old house a new look, after the appearance has been re-applied, waterproof paint is applied to the outer wall and it is combined with grille, glass, and wood elements to create a modern sensibility. Indoors, the homeowners loved the industrial wind for their live performances, using bare ceilings with black track lights to show the original flavor. And with a modern texture of stainless steel wool face, iron pieces, gray mirrors, and other multi-media, wonderful interpretation of the Loft will be avant-garde fashion style. In the presentation of details in space, designers have not forgotten to blend in Japanese style that is good at it. The wall surface is covered with a brushing technique that presents a hand-made texture touch. Or is it a cement board with an imitation of a building surface, and in a detailed three-dimensional texture, it pays attention to the delicate and quiet temperature. Moderately added elements of the wooden grille allow Japanese Zen and Lofty winds to transform freely in space and mix and match warmth and relief to create simple feelings, contrasting the liveliness and compactness of a room.

Design Location and Timeframe: Taipei, Taiwan

Design Challenges: The original space structure was too old and messy. The living room and the restaurant and the bedroom were originally scattered on different floors, and broken lines caused inconvenience to life. Upstairs, the bedroom was also low in ceiling, unable to play its original function, and was actually used as an empty storage space. In order to solve the above problems, the design team uses the concept of layered settings to put the public and private sectors into the second floor and the third floor respectively. The second floor is planned for the public domain. With an open pattern, it combines the functions of the living room, dining room, and kitchen to form a spacious and comfortable interactive field. It is the best meeting place for family or friends. In response to the owner’s request, a room was set up in the hide-out area behind the kitchen and dining area, and a soft cloth was used as a place for children to take a nap. On the third floor, the private sector uses the walkway to plan an open-plan study, and to increase the use of pings effects, it also creates a multiplier effect.

Design Notes: This house was originally the house owner's grandmother's 'starting house', plus she had spent a period of childhood here, so she had a hard time giving it up... After the grandmother passed away, the house was handed to the grandmother's most loving granddaughter. In order to allow this generational sentiment to continue for a long time, the owner's family decided to move back to this 40-year-old house to start a new life.

Awards and Accolades: This Design was awarded Iron in A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2019. Iron A' Design Award: Awarded to well-designed, practical, and innovative creations that meet professional and industrial requirements. Respected for integrating industry best practices and competent technical characteristics, they provide fulfillment and positive feelings, contributing to a better world.