Fluent Time: A New Take on Industrial Residential Design

Ming-Hong Tsai's Award-Winning Design Fuses Industrial and Oriental Styles

The design's unique properties lie in its setting - a townhouse with a garage that serves as the starting point for the industrial ambiance. The interior, while industrial in theme, is far from rugged. Instead, it showcases a delicate technique that presents the literati qualities of the industrial style. This is achieved through the customization of various materials such as iron, wood veneer, and red brick, and the strategic use of lighting to create unique variations.

The design realization technology involved the use of steel square pipe, stainless steel, brick, wood veneering, black steel plates, and expanded metal sheets. The project, which covers an area of 66sqm, is tagged as an industrial style, New Oriental style, vintage style, home design, and arcade design.

The design interaction is another highlight of Fluent Time. In the arcade, fence and lights are used to display on the uneven red brick wall to present the texture of the wall. The wooden box is also used as light to show different levels. The open kitchen countertop is made of broken filament surface steel, showcasing exquisite technique.

The project was completed in Taichung city, Taiwan. One of the challenges faced during the design process was the rearrangement of the pipeline system due to the relocation of the toilet next to the kitchen. This was a request by the house owner and was complicated by the presence of the stairway. However, this challenge was successfully overcome.

Fluent Time is a testament to Ming-Hong Tsai's innovative approach to design. The project won the Silver A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2019, a prestigious accolade that recognizes top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that demonstrate outstanding expertise and innovation.