The Calm Retreat

About The Entry

Located in Kaohsiung, this residence enjoys both expansive ocean views and the convenience of urban living.

Targeted at families entering the next stage of life, the project’s name, The Calm Retreat (from the Sanskrit “AMAN,” meaning peace and tranquility), reflects its design ethos.

The interior draws from natural metaphors—the warmth of forest timber grains and the stone-gray of mountain cliffs—extending the building’s architectural advantage with floor-to-ceiling windows that embrace the sea and sky, capturing sunsets infused with a Zen-like serenity.

Within the expansive open-plan layout, layered “mountain ridges” articulate the sequence of island kitchen, dining, and living areas.

A terrazzo walkway links the living room, dining space, and kitchen, creating a

core domain for family interaction, while private quarters are set back at either end, ensuring privacy and calm.

A tatami room, envisioned as a “pavilion within the house,” mediates between movement and stillness. It functions as a contemplative retreat or as an

extension of the living room for social gatherings.

Bedrooms echo the palette of the tatami room, with hotel-style ensuite bathrooms shaping complete private sanctuaries.

Guided by Japanese Zen aesthetics, the design integrates natural and local

elements into a multi-sensory experience—sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch—elevated into a deeper “sense of the heart”: Natural elements layer visual beauty; ambient background music shapes the auditory experience; the scent of cypress instills a sense of belonging; the meals prepared by family evoke enduring memories of taste; and natural materials such as artisanal finishes and solid wood provide a tactile warmth.