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Chen house
Sanjhih, Taiwan
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At home with nature.

image: Adda | © all rights reserved
i
Category:
housing
Phase:
Design:
Marco Casagrande / Casagrande Laboratory
Updated:
22 September 2011
introduction

Built on the grounds of an old Japanese cherry farm in the Datun mountains of North Taiwan, the Chen House was designed by Marco Casagrande of Casagrande Laboratory for an elderly retired couple. A simple and inspirational example of bio-climatic architecture, the house catches the cool breezes from the Datun river during hot summer and is raised above the ground to let the flood waters run beneath during the rainy season.

Chen House by the Datun River

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Chen house

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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materials and building techniques

The house is built like a boat with tropical hardwood - mahogany, that gave us the structural possibility to use minimal dimensions for structures. The space is breating through gaped walls and it lets cool air coming in throuhg the floor. The windows are designed as adjustable wind catchers in order to capture the diffenrent winds of the day. 

The whole house is built by the architects in co-operation with the clients.

earth and climate

The house is situated up in the Datun Mountains of North-Taiwan. The environmental conditions are demanding with frequent earthquakes, typhoons, heat and strong winds. The house is built like a boat to cope with these conditions.

Datun river.

image: MaxChu | CC-BY-NC-ND_black.png some rights reserved
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image gallery
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Chen House by the Datun River

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
i
Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Chen House

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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technical drawings
Site Plan

image: Casagrande Laboratory | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Floor Plan

image: Casagrande Laboratory | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Roof Plan

image: Casagrande Laboratory | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Long Section

image: Casagrande Laboratory | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Short Section

image: Casagrande Laboratory | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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East Facade

image: Casagrande Laboratory | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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West Facaded

image: AdDa | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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South Facade

image: Casagrande Laboratory | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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North Facade

image: Casagrande Laboratory | CC-BY_black.png some rights reserved
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Location
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Keyword:
cli­mate (35)
wood (37)
flood (5)
hands-on (43)
mountains (6)
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