LET THERE BE LIGHT

A compact yet spacious apartment in Taipei, Taiwan, is an oasis of calm. AGATHA WONG learns more

- AGATHA WONG

Fu De Street in Taipei is a mature neighbourhood, and this home is located on the first floor of a narrow house completed in 1968 in this bustling area. As with many urban homes built during this period, the unit was traditionally partitioned, meaning the rooms near the centre were dank and dark with poor air circulation. Its entrance was also close to the public stairs, causing safety concerns. To address these issues and transform this compact 1,066 sq ft space into a bright and cosy home, SIRUI Interior Design collaborated with DAWOOD Interior Design.

The designers observed that the distance between this long, narrow home’s front and rear ends was sufficient to allow natural light to enter the interior, so why not encourage the light to come into the house? To facilitate this, the designers removed the original partitions. Instead, they added a courtyard at the bottom of the corridor, allowing anyone in the living room, master bedroom, and bathroom to enjoy the greenery in the courtyard.