Maison Of Silence Residential House

Maison Of Silence Residential House

Maison Of Silence Residential House is an award-winning interior design project completed in Taichung City, Taiwan, that exemplifies contemporary minimalist residential architecture through its innovative integration of human habitation with feline companionship, spanning 106 square meters of meticulously planned interior space complemented by extensive outdoor areas including a 12-meter sky garden balcony and two terraces. Designed by the collaborative team of PO-HUNG HSIN, CHIA-HUNG TSAI, and YAN-WEI LIAO, this residential project represents a sophisticated exploration of wabi-sabi aesthetics merged with practical spatial planning, where the primary design challenge involved creating a harmonious living environment for a family of four alongside six cats while adhering to traditional Feng Shui principles. The architectural intervention commenced in August 2022 and reached completion in January 2023, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to interior space optimization that prioritized natural light penetration, visual connectivity, and flexible spatial arrangements. The design methodology employed curved architectural elements as a defining characteristic, most notably manifested in the sculptural entry screen that serves multiple functions including art display, buffet storage, and Feng Shui compliance, while simultaneously delineating spatial zones between the entrance, living, and dining areas without creating physical barriers that would impede the free movement of both human and feline inhabitants. Material selection for Maison Of Silence Residential House reflects a refined palette combining natural wood textures, terrazzo flooring, iron fixtures, and bronze mirrors, unified through a color scheme dominated by grays, whites, and earthy tones, with strategic accents of warm reddish-brown introduced to highlight the Feng Shui wealth area without overwhelming the minimalist aesthetic. The spatial configuration demonstrates advanced understanding of interior circulation patterns, as the original central hallway was relocated adjacent to floor-to-ceiling windows to maximize exposure to greenery and natural light while simultaneously reducing external noise intrusion, thereby enhancing the sense of security for the resident cats. This repositioning of circulation space exemplifies the project's commitment to blurring indoor-outdoor boundaries, creating an illusion of expanded spatial volume by directing visual focus toward the balcony landscape. The living and dining areas flow seamlessly into the kitchen through the implementation of concealed sliding doors that retract into wall cavities, allowing for both open-plan connectivity during social occasions and effective isolation of cooking fumes when required, demonstrating the design's adaptability to varying functional requirements. Lighting design plays a crucial role in establishing the contemplative atmosphere that characterizes Maison Of Silence Residential House, with an eco-friendly, cloud-like main luminaire providing soft, diffused illumination that adds dimensional depth to the interior spaces, while strategically placed ceiling lights guide movement through angled transitions, subtly directing circulation patterns without relying on physical partitions. The three-sided lighting configuration takes full advantage of the northwest solar orientation, with careful consideration given to balancing natural illumination with thermal comfort and privacy requirements. Furniture placement follows a deliberate strategy ensuring that all sightlines converge toward focal points that enhance spatial unity and warmth, with the owner's cherished round dining table positioned centrally to facilitate family gatherings and shared moments, embodying the project's underlying philosophy of fostering connection and togetherness. The dedicated cat room represents an innovative programmatic element rarely encountered in conventional residential design, acknowledging the specific behavioral needs of feline inhabitants while maintaining aesthetic coherence with the overall design language. Each primary bedroom provides direct access to the outdoor terraces, ensuring equitable distribution of access to greenery and views among all family members, while the hallway positioned alongside windows serves the dual purpose of channeling abundant sunlight into interior spaces and providing a secure, elevated vantage point for the cats to observe their surroundings. The design's commitment to minimalism extends beyond aesthetic considerations to encompass a functional philosophy that encourages unencumbered movement and reduces visual clutter, creating an environment conducive to contemplation and relaxation. Maison Of Silence Residential House received the Silver A' Design Award in the Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design category in 2025, one of the world's most prestigious design competitions, which recognized the project's tremendously brilliant and exceedingly creative approach to residential interior design, acknowledging its outstanding expertise in material selection excellence, functional layout design, color scheme mastery, lighting design proficiency, and aesthetic appeal. The award designation specifically noted the design's strong technical characteristics, splendid artistic skill, original innovations, discerning emotional elements, and insightful creativity, validating its contribution to advancing the boundaries of interior design practice. The project's research phase involved extensive analysis of the homeowner's Feng Shui requirements, with particular emphasis on visual and directional elements experienced upon entering the residence, resulting in a circulation pathway that guides movement from southwest to northeast toward the dining table, effectively buffering external influences while providing psychological security. The curved screen at the entrance establishes the tonal quality of the homecoming experience, employing textured coatings and warm material accents to create a calm, welcoming atmosphere that marks the transition from public to private realm. This sculptural element demonstrates sophisticated understanding of how architectural form can simultaneously serve practical, aesthetic, and symbolic functions, integrating storage, display, and spatial definition within a single design gesture. The floor plan optimization involved removing unnecessary partitions and minimizing corridor space, representing a strategic approach to spatial efficiency that maximizes usable area within the 106-square-meter footprint while maintaining clear functional zoning. The design's attention to detail extends to the selection of an eco-friendly lighting fixture whose cloud-like form introduces organic softness into the rectilinear architectural framework, exemplifying how carefully chosen elements can enhance spatial character without compromising minimalist principles. The integration of traditional Feng Shui considerations with contemporary design sensibilities demonstrates cultural sensitivity and adaptability, proving that ancient spatial principles can coexist harmoniously with modern aesthetic preferences when approached with thoughtful interpretation rather than rigid adherence. The warm reddish-brown accent color, introduced specifically to highlight the Feng Shui wealth area, illustrates how symbolic requirements can be addressed through subtle design interventions that enrich rather than dominate the overall composition. The project's emphasis on natural materials including wood, terrazzo, and bronze creates tactile richness that counterbalances the visual simplicity of the minimalist aesthetic, providing sensory variety that prevents the space from feeling austere or cold. The 12-meter balcony represents a significant outdoor amenity that extends the functional living area while serving as a visual terminus that draws the eye outward, effectively expanding the perceived spatial volume of the interior through borrowed landscape. The design's consideration of both human and feline inhabitants reflects an inclusive approach to residential programming that acknowledges the full spectrum of household members, with specific attention paid to creating secure elevated pathways and observation points that satisfy cats' behavioral needs for territorial surveillance. The completion timeline of five months from August 2022 to January 2023 demonstrates efficient project management and coordination, particularly given the complexity of integrating multiple functional requirements, custom millwork, and specialized spatial configurations. Maison Of Silence Residential House ultimately represents a sophisticated synthesis of aesthetic refinement, functional pragmatism, cultural sensitivity, and inclusive design thinking, establishing a precedent for residential interiors that accommodate diverse inhabitants while maintaining coherent design language and spatial quality.

Residential interior design, minimalist architecture, Feng Shui integration, human-feline cohabitation, curved spatial elements, natural light optimization

— Adam Dawson

CITATION : "Adam Dawson. 'Maison Of Silence Residential House.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/define/maison-of-silence-residential-house?E=483698 (Accessed on October 14, 2026)"