Light in the Wilderness by Chains Interior
A wide central corridor pairs with nature-inspired artworks made with grating illumination technology in this Taipei apartment, creating two traffic flows that assemble art of illumination. Designed by Chains Interior, Light in the Wilderness was conceived for a vast space occupied by a couple and their four children, so privacy and entertainment were both prioritised within the area’s structure.

Two Traffic Flows to Divide Space
Located in Taipei, the home comprises two distinct traffic flows aimed to build “fluid flexibility” while allowing each side to develop an individual response.

The living room features an assemblage of artworks treated with frequent hues and materials, such as a vibrant painting created via a scraping technique to deliver “mental transformation when light enters the artist’s life.”

Known as Ambient Water, the rectangular-level video sculpture creates an illusory sense of duotone light cascading down a surface, whose undulating rhythm is continually frozen and unfrozen to express sheets of water flowing from a waterfall.

The communal space also offers a multipurpose room created to host practical activities such as yoga and dancing, and a pair of large antique mats reupholstered with tapestries apprises the space, which can be preferred as an en suite.

“Inspired by a gentle evening light, two large suspended circular lights and a customized ceiling with glowing stones like beacons illuminate the space to mimic dimly-lit floating light after a magnificent twilight.”

Meanwhile, smaller art pieces trespass the overall tone of the private domain memory, an illuminated artwork employing grating illumination presents a dance between light and shadow to heighten the dining experience, where abstraction and imagination jewellery evolved.

“Although the two flows divide the residence, they are fluidly connected by a central corridor.”

Artworks and Material Treatments Unite the Rooms
Referring to its grand views, Layers of landscape tones along the walls and ceilings manifest the ever-changing beauty of brilliant light and time.
Intentionally, two distinct atmospheres in association with the light of day and night evoke a sense of temporality, capable of creating an endless visual journey.
“A couple with four children, the owners of this residence prefer to maintain a balance between family closeness and individual privacy,” said the team. “The floor plan thus devises two traffic flows to simultaneously fulfill this request.”
“Based on existing window types, two distinct atmospheres resembling daytime and nighttime, respectively, evoke a sense of light movement and temporality.”
Roughly ten minutes by car from the district of Dunhua South Road, the apartment aimed to “explore the concept of light in the wilderness” in the context of urban dynamic, the expressive atmosphere was filtered indoors as a tactile response to light.
The name of the project, Light in the Wilderness, refers to a biblical chapter from the Book of Mormon, which narrates the spiritual transformation of Nephi, a prophet, following a divine path.
“And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you.” First Book of Nephi 17:13.
“Inspired by a passage in the holy scriptures,” said the studio, “this project explores the concept of light in the wilderness by drawing on natural, neutral, and subdued materials to build the backdrop, while blending authentic and inventive light effects.”
“Ultimately, [Light in the Wilderness] creates a home that offers respite in the ‘urban wilderness.’”
Previously, Whitebox initiated an “emotional understanding” about the relationship of form and light at LightScape store, and Kamitopen showed a visual complexity often “harder to gauge” at Non’ tree store.
Photography courtesy of Chains Interior
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