Beside Sacred Tree House

Beside Sacred Tree House
by Chung-Li Lee

• Awarded April 15, 2021
• CLIENT: JD Integrated Design Co., Ltd
• 6.904

Beside Sacred Tree is a house in Caotun, Taiwan, rebuilt from a former farmhouse. The house stands behind the Qigu sacred tree, a camphor tree that is 1600 years old. The building occupies only a quarter of the land, and the remaining area is kept green to protect the environment. The design borrows the surrounding scenery, a strategy often used in Chinese gardens. The form is simple and white, with large openings that frame different views. Wood furniture, white walls and warm floors connect the interior with the garden. Trees and sunlight cast soft shadows on the white walls.