Silver A' Design Award Winner 2024
LIAN CHEN's Residence H emerges from a design philosophy that privileges material continuity and chromatic restraint as vehicles for creating spaces of profound contemplation and cultural resonance, situating itself within contemporary interpretations of Mediterranean building traditions while engaging broader conversations about the relationship between architecture, art, and dwelling, the interior's comprehensive application of warm-toned plaster across all surfaces—walls, ceiling beams, and integrated cabinetry—achieves what architectural phenomenologists might term material honesty, where the building envelope becomes a unified sculptural gesture rather than an assembly of discrete components, this monolithic treatment creates an enveloping atmosphere that simultaneously references ancient earthen construction methods and contemporary microcement applications favored in minimalist residential practice, the placement of the contemplative bronze figure as primary focal point transforms the domestic space into something approaching a private sanctuary or gallery, inviting meditation upon classical humanist themes while grounding the interior in art historical dialogue, Chen demonstrates sophisticated understanding of chromatic relationships through the deliberate contrast between warm earth-toned surfaces and the cool patinated bronze, this temperature differential creating visual tension that animates the otherwise unified palette, the integrated display shelving suggests a resident whose life is enriched by collected objects carrying personal and aesthetic significance, each item placed with curatorial intention that rewards contemplation, natural light enters through generous glazing, connecting interior sanctuary to exterior garden while modeling the textural plaster surfaces with ever-changing shadow patterns that mark temporal passage, viewers are invited to consider how material choices shape emotional experience of space, and how the presence of significant artworks within domestic settings elevates daily life toward the contemplative.
From the exterior renovation to the spacious double entrance design, and from converting the leaky water tower into an open-air courtyard creating a display space by the staircase with ceiling extending to the sunlight-filled large windows. The overall interior palette is composed of earthy tones, reflecting the lush and natural surroundings. The abundance of windows extending to the outdoor patios also represents the fusion of vitality and creativity, bringing more possibilities to the house.