MVRDV are set to realize ‘Y house’, a spacious private villa located in a residential development in northeast tainan, taiwan. the distinctive dwelling with a Y-shaped façade, gives a characteristic identity to the otherwise nondescript site. once completed, the scheme will offer a peaceful respite from urban life just 40 minutes drive from tainan city.
all images © MVRDV
the 330 square meter weekend retreat capitalizes on its prime location with living spaces elevated up on a four-floor stem to promote uninterrupted views. the architects at MVRDV approached the organization of the layout by placing the social programs — the living and dining rooms — at the top. this forms the semi-floating deck and sloped wall which integrates into a bookshelf. below this, two children’s rooms, a master bedroom and a guest bedroom, are stacked above a ground-level garden tea room used for entertaining guests.
in the top volume, the dining space is sandwiched between two tribunes providing access to the solarium and changing rooms, before leading up to the rooftop pool which cradles in the dip of the Y-shaped structure. large circular windows punctuate the concrete envelope and invite light into the interior with an opening looking both down onto the calm pool deck and up into the one above. a play of dappled light enters through these openings, filling the living room and dining area with sun.
large circular windows invite natural light into the interiors
‘how to make a house that literally rises above the ‘sea of houses? how to create a view towards the sea over the other houses?’ comments MVRDV co-founder winy maas. ‘by making the program downstairs as narrow as possible, a large garden is created and situating the majority on the top floors a view is created. and in the heart of the elevated house, the rooms diverge/move apart to give space for a valley to swim in with a view towards the sea…’
the positioning and orientation is designed according to the practice of feng shui
dappled light enters through the windows into the dining area
the dwelling will serve as a single family residence for those wishing to spend their weekends in a futuristic space
Y house was conceived by MVRDV with co-architects kai architects and envision engineering consultants
on the rooftop, a private swimming pool is cradled in the dip of the Y-shaped structure
project info:
name: Y house
location: tainan, taiwan
year: 2014+
design team: winy maas, jacob van rijs, nathalie de vries, wenchian shi, hui-hsin liao,
angel sanchez navarro, diana bibisheva, antonio luca coco, costanza cuccato and jaime domínguez balgom and matteo artico
client: wonders information co. ltd
size & program: 330 sqm private residence
budget: undisclosed
co-architects: kai architects tainan, taiwan
structural engineers: envision engineering consultants
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