Bronze Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2026
Reflected Light Residence
by Yu Fen Lee
- A' Design Award 2026 Bronze Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Awarded April 15, 2026
- CLIENT: Yujian.studio
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 7,568
- Verification code 5C12BCE007 · Verify this award
About Reflected Light Residence
Reflected Light is a residential interior design for a high-rise apartment of about 206 square meters in Taiwan. The unit has windows on three sides, and the layout is planned to guide daylight through the home. Overhead cabinets between the kitchen and balcony were removed and the island was extended so that daylight reaches further inward. Motorized blinds and recessed lights soften strong sun. Coated panels, natural stone and gray laminate flooring create a calm, low-saturation setting. A display wall along the hallway holds the family LEGO models.
YU FEN LEE's Reflected Light Residence engages the longstanding design discourse surrounding domesticity as a vehicle for material refinement and spatial contemplation, situating itself within contemporary interior design practices that synthesize minimalist reduction with experiential warmth, a trajectory visible across residential projects that eschew decorative excess in favor of architectural integrity and material authenticity. The compositional achievement of this space resides in its masterful orchestration of horizontal repose and layered transparency, where a commanding white marble media wall functions as both visual anchor and luminous reflective plane, its naturally veined surface introducing organic figuration within an otherwise rigorously geometric vocabulary, while the floor-to-ceiling glass display alcove at left creates spatial porosity and controlled visual rhythm through the careful curation of simple ceramic vessels against a dark ground, their sculptural forms activating negative space through precise interval and scale relationships. Technical facility manifests in the seamless integration of functional systems within refined architectural surfaces, evident in the recessed ceiling detail that houses linear air-conditioning distribution while maintaining planar continuity, and in the flush media cabinetry that dissolves functional necessity into compositional elegance, demonstrating how service and structure can achieve visual synthesis rather than compromise. The chromatic sophistication operates through subtle temperature modulation within a neutral register, balancing the warm amber and sienna tones of natural oak flooring against the cool mineral presence of marble and the complex warm grays of ceiling planes, creating thermal equilibrium that supports psychological comfort while avoiding chromatic monotony, a palette that speaks to broader contemporary preferences for earthen authenticity and tactile warmth over stark minimalist austerity. The spatial narrative unfolds through carefully orchestrated sequential revelation, where foreground display, middle-ground focal wall, and background living zone establish a procession of domestic rituals from object contemplation to media engagement to social gathering, each zone differentiated through ceiling height modulation and furniture placement yet unified through continuous material gestures, particularly the oak flooring that extends uninterrupted to dissolve boundaries and suggest spatial generosity despite the measured plan. The window wall at right performs crucial phenomenological work, dissolving the interior envelope to frame urban context while external louvers modulate solar penetration, negotiating between outlook desire and environmental control, between transparency and enclosure, a threshold condition fundamental to high-rise residential experience where vertical elevation grants expansive views while demanding careful mediation of exposure. What emerges invites consideration of how restraint itself becomes expressive, how the careful curation of material, proportion, and detail generates spatial character without recourse to decorative embellishment, suggesting that contemporary domestic tranquility arises through reduction, precision, and the patient refinement of essential elements rather than additive accumulation, each surface and junction carefully resolved to support contemplative inhabitation where daily rituals unfold within spaces that honor both material presence and experiential serenity.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Maximizing light was key. With windows on three sides, overhead cabinets between the kitchen and balcony were removed, and the island was extended to let daylight flow inward. A wide skyline view enhances dining, with motorized blinds and recessed lights softening harsh sun. Life unfolds from the foyer to the living room, kitchen, and hallway leading to private rooms, each with a window. A LEGO wall along the hall preserves family memories, while lighting and views at the corridor's end transform it into a serene pause, balancing shared spaces with private retreats.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The interior spans approximately 206 square meters. The original layout is a semi-enclosed square-shaped structure forming a 'C'-shaped floor plan. Starting from the C-shaped entrance are the living and kitchen/dining areas, followed by a hallway leading to two children's rooms and a study, with dual master bedrooms at the far end. All rooms, except the hallway, receive natural light. Based on this structure, the designers planned a rhythmic progression of space, ensuring that every turn brings light, views, and a sense of living flow.
- Tags
- Three-sided daylighting, Barrier-free space, Full sunken flooring, Gray-toned palette, High-rise scenic residence, Eco-friendly materials
- Production Technology
- The space features KD-coated panels, natural stone, and gray-toned laminate flooring to create a stable, low-saturation atmosphere that enhances natural light without causing glare. The social area finished in warm gray tones; the hostess's room adopts a light French style, elegant and refined: the host's study uses dark gray and black to reflect his composed personality. The children's rooms were color-coordinated based on their choices, and the designers seamlessly integrated them into the overall palette using gray tones and woodwork for cohesive yet individual transitions.
- Design Challenge
- The sunken-floor unit with a 35 cm recessed slab posed rigidity, as no concrete backfill was allowed. Carbonized plywood was used to elevate the flooring, with wet areas requiring repeated structural and waterproof calculations. Designers closely supervised construction to ensure stability and barrier-free linear drainage, simulating full backfill results. Numerous concealed systems were also integrated, with the beamless structure enabling precise coordination of visual and functional elements to overcome both height and structural limits.
- Project Duration
- The project finished in December 2024 in Taiwan.
- Operation Flow
- The owners described their experience as 'never wanting to leave once we moved in.' The new layout eliminated any feeling of confinement, allowing the family to fully enjoy the sunlit openness. The dining area became the most-used space, with sunlight bathing the sink and central island, turning it into a daily interaction stage. The LEGO display case along the hallway offers children a sense of involvement and becomes a visual thread of shared family memories. Soft lighting at night and natural daylight by day allow the home to embody a true sense of refuge.
- Research
- This high-rise unit, with sunken floor and three-sided windows, embraces 'light as structure,' letting sunlight guide rhythm from living to dining, hall, and private rooms. The open kitchen-dining layout removes overhead cabinets for clear sightlines, while soft ceiling lights and gray tones create calm openness. Each room has windows for both privacy and connection. A LEGO wall and end-lighting warm the hallway. Raised floors resolve drainage and barrier-free needs. Pleated blinds, hot water return, and eco-friendly materials complete a sustainable home.
- Inspiration
- Located on a high floor in Hsinchu's East District, this sunken-floor empty unit features windows on three sides. The design began with the concept of maximizing natural light to meet the family's desire for brightness and expansive views. From the open kitchen-dining area to the living room and every window-lit corner, the design guides light, daily rhythm, and family interaction-turning the space from a collection of zones into a dynamic, light-driven home.
- Image Credits
- Yujian.studio