Reinterweaving: Reproducing Local Rice Culture in Social Housing Design

Reviving Tradition and Fostering Community

This unique social housing design aims to reproduce the local rice culture and history, fostering a sense of community and shared experiences. The project seeks to create a space where new residents and locals can engage in a sharing lifestyle and entertainment. Moreover, the design aims to attract tourists to participate in these new lifestyles, offering them an opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich traditions of Taiwan.

The main concept of Reinterweaving is inspired by the terrain in Qingpu district and local agriculture traditions. The curvy surface structure of the building mimics the contours of a rice paddy, allowing visitors to experience the real terrain and immerse themselves in the rice culture. The use of diverse rice-related elements, such as furniture, partition walls, and decorations made from rice straw, further enhances the authenticity of the design.

The realization of this project involved transforming a vast rice paddy into a unique architectural space. The main curvy structure was constructed, and most of the partition walls and furniture were made from straw bricks. This choice not only showcases the beauty of straw arts but also creates an immediate connection to the rice paddy atmosphere.

The design features a commercial area on the first to third floors, providing a space for artists residing in the upper floors to teach and showcase their artwork. The area is equipped with machines and tables, while a library offers a quiet place for residents and others to indulge in reading. The lower part of the architecture utilizes a concrete shell structure to create curvy terrain-profile columns and ceilings, reflecting the unique geography of Taoyuan. The upper structure for residence adopts a normal concrete structure, optimizing space utilization and reducing costs.

Reinterweaving is not just a physical structure; it is a harmonious interaction between nature and architecture. The design takes inspiration from the thousands of ponds, hills, and grass fields in Taoyuan, incorporating them as the principal axis of the social housing project. The combination of organic forms in the public areas and module forms in the living areas allows for flexible utilization of space. The design also emphasizes the view of the Laojie river and the surrounding grass fields, enhancing the connection between the natural environment and the architecture.

The Reinterweaving project began in November 2018 in Taoyuan and was completed in January 2019 in Taipei. It was exhibited at Taiwan Tech as the final design project for junior architecture school students. The design team, led by Lang-Wen Ma and I Chung Hsu, conducted extensive research on the local rice culture and history, aiming to create a design that authentically represents the traditions and values of the community.

This innovative social housing project faced various challenges, including incorporating the plethora of ponds, hills, mounds, and grass fields found in the Taoyuan Qingpu site. However, by combining diverse elements of rice culture, the design team successfully created a space that offers a unique experience and encourages interaction between residents and tourists.

Reinterweaving has received recognition for its outstanding design and creativity. It was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in the Architecture, Building, and Structure Design category in 2020. This prestigious award acknowledges designs that exhibit strong technical and creative skills, contributing to improvements in quality of life and making the world a better place.