Hinomori: A Harmonious Blend of Modern and Traditional Japanese Design

Wei-Hao Lin's Award-Winning Residential Villa Design

Wei-Hao Lin, a renowned designer, was inspired by the homeowner's love for the simplicity of Japanese style and the dynamism of spatial context. The design is based on pure white, complemented by cozy wood and gray cement colors, creating a breezy and natural atmosphere. The furniture decoration features simple and spherical modeling lights as modern symbols, while several image paintings and green plants add a touch of nature, resulting in a humanistic and harmonious home, Hinomori.

What sets Hinomori apart from other designs is its unique features. The designer responded to the owner's preference for a projector and screen over traditional TV sets by devising hidden circuits on the living room beams, achieving a neat and artistic visual effect. A major highlight is the customized fish tank embedded at the corner of the entrance foyer, offering uplifting views from any direction and adding a new interpretation of home greenness.

The realization of Hinomori involved abandoning the general residential planning method. The kitchen and dining area are located behind the foyer, while the living room and study feature large windows for natural daylight illumination. The designer removed beams and barriers, using an elliptical log as a grille to weaken boundaries and allow for the enjoyment of sunshine. The screen and projector lift up to the ceiling beam, and laminate lamps create an indirect lighting effect. The living room's pressure beams were designed with an inclined plane to alleviate sharp angles and abrupt vision, making the space more diverse.

The technical specifications of Hinomori include the use of a 4 cm thickness wood cortex laminate board to erect bookshelves. The design also features a cement premier layer back wall and lamps of cement material that echo the LOTOS wall of the corridor, bringing out the texture of fair-faced concrete and shaping a tranquil Japanese-style home atmosphere.

The design process was not without challenges. The designer had to consider how to inlay the fish tank into the cabinet body without causing dampness and mildew. This was achieved by using a moisture-proof foam board to prevent mildew breeding and an exhaust fan for heat dissipation. The result is a design that merges modern techniques and Japanese impression, creating a simple but not monotonous ideal home atmosphere.

Hinomori's design excellence was recognized with a Silver A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2019. This prestigious award is given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. Wei-Hao Lin's Hinomori is indeed a testament to such excellence.