The #GC2022 finalists are out! Read more.

search
×
menu
login
donate
Chen house
Sanjhih, Taiwan
Written by:
follow
share on:mail linkcopy link to clipboardShare via LinkedInShare via TwitterShare via FacebookShare via Facebook
At home with nature.

image: Adda | © all rights reserved
i
Category:
housing
Phase:
Design:
Marco Casagrande / Casagrande Laboratory
Updated:
22 September 2011
introduction

Built on the grounds of an old Japanese cherry farm in the Datun mountains of North Taiwan, the Chen House was designed by Marco Casagrande of Casagrande Laboratory for an elderly retired couple. A simple and inspirational example of bio-climatic architecture, the house catches the cool breezes from the Datun river during hot summer and is raised above the ground to let the flood waters run beneath during the rainy season.

Chen House by the Datun River

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen house

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
read more >
< read less
materials and building techniques

The house is built like a boat with tropical hardwood - mahogany, that gave us the structural possibility to use minimal dimensions for structures. The space is breating through gaped walls and it lets cool air coming in throuhg the floor. The windows are designed as adjustable wind catchers in order to capture the diffenrent winds of the day. 

The whole house is built by the architects in co-operation with the clients.

earth and climate

The house is situated up in the Datun Mountains of North-Taiwan. The environmental conditions are demanding with frequent earthquakes, typhoons, heat and strong winds. The house is built like a boat to cope with these conditions.

Datun river.

image: MaxChu | CC-BY-NC-ND_black.png some rights reserved
i
image gallery
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House by the Datun River

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
technical drawings
Site Plan

image: Casagrande Laboratory | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Floor Plan

image: Casagrande Laboratory | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Roof Plan

image: Casagrande Laboratory | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Long Section

image: Casagrande Laboratory | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Short Section

image: Casagrande Laboratory | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
East Facade

image: Casagrande Laboratory | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
West Facaded

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
South Facade

image: Casagrande Laboratory | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
North Facade

image: Casagrande Laboratory | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Location
show earth plate boundarieshide earth plate boundaries
Explore more inspirations
Keyword:
cli­mate (35)
wood (36)
flood (5)
hands-on (43)
mountains (6)
prev
  •  education
    Ecole du Scarabée / Scarab School
    north of timbuktu, Mali
  •  housing
    Tipi
    U.S.A.
  •  housing
    Hen House
    Fiscavaig, Isle of Skye, United Kingdom
  • play
     work & business
    Transforming Puffed Rice Making MicroBusiness Unit
    Dharwad, India
  •  urban planning
    arcosanti
    Arizona, U.S.A.
  • GC2022 finalist
     housing
    Mini-Cyclone Shelter for Vulnerable Communities.
    Bhola, Bangladesh
  •  education
    Preparatory Academy Energy Lab
    Kamuela, Hawaii, U.S.A.
  •  infrastructure
    Bridge to the forest - Puente al bosque
    Boruca (Indigenous territory), Costa Rica
  •  housing
    Ruca Dwellings
    Huechuraba, Chile
  • play
     meeting place
    StadtGoesFuture-Culthäusle
    Filderstadt-Plattenhardt, Germany
  •  housing
    Izba
    Moscow Oblast, Russia
  •  meeting place
    Tusen Restaurante
    Ramundberget, Sweden
  •  housing
    "After the rain comes..."
    Msitu wa Tembo, Tanzania
  •  housing
    Casa Verde
    San Juan de Uraba, Colombia
  •  meeting place
    Farmers' Innovation Center (BLF)
    Angangba (Nagaland), India
  •  education
    SAL Exhibition Pavilion/Learning by Making
    Ahmedabad, India
  •  education
    Bethel Secondary School
    Gourcy, Burkina Faso
  •  education
    Senior Citizen’s Library
    Bhatpore Village Surat, India
  •  education
    Ithuba Community College
    Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, South Africa
  •  recreation & sport
    Sala Visitor Centre
    Hua Hin Hills, Thailand
  •  education
    Polyvalent Cultural Center in Senegal
    Tanaff, Senegal
  •  emergency shelter
    Bamboo Dome Structure
    Ramsar, Iran
  • play
     education
    Community Center for Indigenous music/ environment
    Tuba, Philippines
  •  education
    Ali Apple Elementary School
    Ali, China
  • play
    GC2022 finalist
     education
    The Baitussalam School
    Jacobabad, Pakistan
  • play
     education
    The House of Biomaterials
    Rishikesh, India
  •  housing
    Net-Zero Self-sufficient Home
    Bafoussam, Cameroon
  •  health & sanitation
    Hygiene Station for Cattlefield Village School
    Yunnan, China
  •  housing
    Rehabilitation for a resettlement area in SocTrang
    Soc Trang, Vietnam
  •  education
    Majuli School / GENERATING RESILIENCE
    majuli, India
  •  housing
    Kampung Kali Chode, Yogyakarta
    Yogyakarta, Indonesia
  •  education
    Kargyak Learning Center
    Kargayak, India
  •  emergency shelter
    Living Tebogo
    Johannesburg, South Africa
  •  health & sanitation
    The Rain and the Umbrellas
    Bekasi Regency, Indonesia
  •  education
    Gando Primary School
    Gando, Burkina Faso
next