Project name: AODA Office
Interior design: AODA Interior Design Co.
Location: Taiwan
Photo: @jackalliu76 – instagram
Year: 2023
Project description from design firms AODA Interior Design Co.
Design Statement
In this distinctive old house renovation project, the design team joined forces with Green Humor across various fields, infusing the brand’s unique traits into the space. By working hand-in-hand with landscape designers, they employed planting design as a means to blend Eastern cultural beauty with modern aesthetics, resulting in a lively workspace filled with rich cultural meanings.
The spatial design prioritizes the cohesion of indoor and outdoor environments, taking into account cultural contexts and environmental aspects. As the original architectural structure is preserved, the design integrates a variety of materials and Eastern motifs, choosing plants that evoke Eastern imagery to generate a one-of- a-kind aesthetic appeal. This approach instills a sense of tranquility and unhurried | living into the 50-year-old apartment, highlighting AODA’s design ideology. Embracing unrestrained eclecticism, the design illustrates the harmonious fusion of traditional and contemporary, Eastern and Western aesthetics, as well as culture and environmental conservation, culminating in a textured, personalized, and impactful office space.
Idea
For AODA, interior design is not only about creating beautiful spaces but also about establishing an environment that has the power to influence cultural emotions and enhance the quality of life through the simplicity and delicate details of the design. The driving force and motivation behind this renovation project for AODA, which is dedicated to combining the beauty of Eastern culture with modern aesthetic design, is to embody such a philosophy in the transformed office space.
At the same time, the design team draws inspiration from their family background, childhood memories, and cultural experiences. Their love for vintage style is reflected in the design, incorporating subtle Eastern elements and various oriental- style plants to create a lush green office space that resonates with the slow- paced and tranquil atmosphere of the area. Through meticulous design and arrangements, they integrate greenery and culture into a modern setting, presenting an aesthetically pleasing and highly personalized office environment that showcases Taiwan’s inclusiveness and the allure of its diverse culture.
Form
Using black as the primary tone of the space, the design pairs it with dark wood to convey a sense of calm Eastern imagery while incorporating brass elements to evoke a historical feel, and combining cool tones to create a modern-style design.
To showcase Eastern textures, the overall design employs curved elements and natural aesthetics to shape the spatial context, preserving parts of the original architectural structure and leaving traces of the building’s historical value through restoration. The doorway details integrate Eastern imagery, utilizing round window designs to create framed views, and achieving harmony between the interior and exterior through the window scenery. This connection enhances interaction and communication with the local community residents.
In the meeting room, lantern-inspired glass light fixtures complement the Eastern-style round windows. The conference table features a reflective glass tabletop that lightens the predominantly dark space. The meeting chairs adopt a style reminiscent of traditional Chinese armchairs, transforming past elements into a contemporary appearance through the integration of different materials.
By employing a semi-open approach to plan the interior layout and placing the meeting room separately in the front, the design uses translucent iron cabinets as partitions to alleviate the sense of congestion in a small space, while maintaining privacy in the open area. The texture of the long rainbow glass backdrop also echoes the original structure’s texture. The iron cabinets feature natural materials, using black iron dye to display the natural texture of rust.
Incorporating small potted plants helps blend indoor and outdoor elements, creating a cohesive design. Given the spatial constraints, only miniature potted plants can be placed on the balcony, resulting in a compact landscape. Intentionally positioning the triangular pendant light on the central axis incorporates its black elements and modern lines into the space’s background. This arrangement creates a sense of depth through visual difference, shaping layers in the spatial perception.
Differentiation
This project emphasizes the importance of open-mindedness and cross-disciplinary collaboration in the design process, highlighting the need to not only challenge traditional thinking but also to collaborate with experts from different fields to achieve better design outcomes. Through open-mindedness and cross-disciplinary cooperation, the design team integrates the inheritance of historical culture into modern design, accentuating human-centered design and the relationships between people and nature, as well as space and nature. By doing so, the design process achieves harmonious coexistence between people and the environment, realizing the potential for spatial innovation and sustainable development.
Impact
In terms of sustainability, the design forgoes complex elements, using eco-friendly paint to protect the building’s structure and replacing chemical surface paint with wood protection oil, avoiding the use of excessive materials that could cause environmental pollution. Translucent partitions and lighting design are employed to introduce natural light, reducing electricity usage and lowering energy consumption. A large number of plants are incorporated indoors to purify the air, assist in oxygenation and natural cooling, while also helping to balance the body and mind, achieve stress relief, and enhance work efficiency and focus.
Culturally,by combining culture, space, design, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, the project emphasizes the connections between various aspects and the environment. The interior layout and material applications enhance practicality and comfort while implementing eco-friendly concepts. By respecting the building’s history and regional characteristics, the design skillfully integrates Eastern elements into modern design, showcasing the beauty of blending historical culture and modern design across generations.
