Taiwan-born, Shanghai-based architect Chih-Da Jason Lin, recently unveiled the interior design for his parents’  house on Qingtian Street (青田街) in Taipei’s Da’an District. The project spans 350 square meters and combines  two adjacent apartments into a three-bedroom single residence, the home is designed to accommodate both  solitude and company.  

Guided by the concepts of a “fluid circulation” and a “non-interference philosophy,” the design establishes a  tranquil yet vibrant dwelling—an urban sanctuary where poetic everyday life and inner calm coexist, exemplifying  a refined synthesis of Eastern aesthetics and contemporary design.

Rooted in the district’s century-old legacy as a literati enclave, this art-rich home reinterprets the relationship  between living, collecting, and cultural inheritance through a contemporary lens.

“While many pursue elaborate  

ornamentation for visual appeal, 

I focus on the underlying logic of  

space and the authentic nature of  

living, ultimately allowing the space  

to return to a state of calm and  

order.” Says Chih-Da Jason Lin,  

the designer

_{Above: Chih-Da Jason Lin: Architect, Interior}  

_{Designer and Cultural & Creative Industry Pioneer.} 

_{Graduated from AA (Architecture Association) in}  

_{UK. Founder and Design Director of Superorganism} 

_Architects.

_{Above: Qingtian Street, also known as the “Emerald of}  

_{Taipei”. Near Daan Park, is one of Taipei’s busiest areas.}  

_{The neighborhood is surrounded by shady old green trees,}  

_{and Japanese-style houses.}

Spatial Strategy  

The project’s key innovation lies in its radical spatial reconfiguration. By removing existing partitions, the design  breaks free from the constraints of conventional room divisions, creating an open, continuous living environment – where works of art and furniture seem in constant conversation with the architecture of the space – nails the  brief. 

_{Above: Living room, features wooden sculptures from}  

_{Song Dynasty and Taiwan-style antique wooden stools.}

Carefully orchestrated circulation acts as an invisible framework, allowing light and sightlines to flow seamlessly  throughout the space. The common area (living room) is interconnected to encourage interaction and shared  experiences, while private zones are discreetly defined by entry thresholds and concealed door systems, forming  what the designer describes as “magical boundaries.” These rooms are distributed along the perimeter like  planets in orbit—ensuring independence while maintaining subtle connections.

The layout—centralizing communal activities while positioning private spaces at the edges—allows each family  member to enjoy a quiet personal retreat. It achieves a delicate balance between solitude and togetherness,  embodying the principle of “coexistence without disturbance”. 

_{Above: Traditional floor-seated tea rituals. The}  

_{calligraphy was gifted by Fazang Master and the tea}  

_{table is made of Huanghuali wood. Wall cabinet from}  

_{Cassina - imasteri collection.} 

Responding to Chih-Da Jason Lin’s parents’ tea-centered lifestyle, this home features two distinct tea settings: one  minimalist and serene, designed for traditional floor-seated tea rituals; the other anchored by a classic dark  wood tea table and a full wall of tea ware, supporting both solitary enjoyment and family gatherings.  

_{Above: Whether for family gatherings or dinner}  

_{with friends, this space allows one to immerse in}  

_{the fusion of gastronomy and art, and fully enjoy}  

_{moments of shared beauty.}

_{Above: the COMBINE TABLE from BOFFI, designed by Piero Lissoni;}  

_{NOCTAMBULE SUSPENSION BOWL light by FLOS, designed by Konstantin Grcic;}  

_{CORINNE dining chairs from BAXTER, designed by Roberto Lazzeroni;}  

_{HIDE OPEN-FACED MODULES tall cabinet system from BOFFI,}  

_{designed by Piero Lissoni + C.R.S. Boffi.}

Additionally, the separation of Chinese and Western kitchens ensures that diverse cooking practices can coexist  without interference, accommodating the rhythms of daily life. 

_{Above: father’s tea room, featured with}  

_{extensible table by Charlotte Perriand, spinning}  

_{stools designed by Le Corbusier.}

_{Above: Chih-Da Jason Lin’s father’s bedroom, chairs by Depadova;} 

_{Time & Style Edition-Japanese Chair;} 

_{Tea table from Henge;}  

_{A Taiwanese artisanal rug.}

Materiality & Atmosphere  

The interior design is grounded in the dual concepts of peacefulness and quietness. Eschewing bold materials  and vivid colors, it adopts a palette of soft beige tones to establish a calm and warm visual foundation. Textured  wall finishes and soft coatings enhance light diffusion, while grey-brown and natural oak surfaces introduce tactile  warmth. Accents of Carrara marble and dark tiles create a nuanced dialogue of materials.

_{Above: Grey-brown and natural matte oak are used}  

_{across the flooring and selected walls in the study,}  

_{bedrooms, and entryway. The pronounced grain and}  

_{warm, tactile quality of the wood bring a sense of comfort}  

_{while enhancing the overall coziness of the space.}

Large windows paired with adjustable louvers animate the interior with shifting light and shadow throughout the  day, generating subtle emotional variations within the space. While echoing the restrained sensibility of wabi-sabi  aesthetics, the design avoids monotony by layering textures and tones—maintaining both simplicity and richness. 

_{Above: The artwork once featured on the Christie’s}  

_{auction cover: a Ming dynasty huanghuali official’s}  

_{hat chair.}

“When you engage with a Ming dynasty official’s hat chair at  home, its materiality and sense of history are far more valuable  than any luxury item. These pieces should be part of the  architecture itself, not mere objects on display,” said the  owner, Chih-Da Jason Lin’s father 

_{Above: In the living room (common area), three Downtown sofas, a Gelly pouf, and}  

_{a Vertigo bench by Massimo Castagna for HENGE break from conventional layouts}  

_{to form a fluid, conversational setting.} 

_{Above: Splashed-ink landscape by Zhang Daqian.}

Furniture and soft furnishings extend this philosophy, combining neutral hues, dark wood, and matte metals.  Contemporary pieces from brands such as HENGE, Cassina, and Boffi are seamlessly integrated with the family’s art  collection. 

_{Above: The Northern Wei Dynasty Buddhist} 

_{sculpture, once exhibited at Taipei Palace}  

_{Museum, part of the owner’s collection.}

Han dynasty stone sculptures, Northern Wei Buddhist figure and Ming dynasty huanghuali official’s hat chairs are  not displayed as distant artifacts but lived with daily. Together, they form a “living museum,” where objects from  different eras engage in an ongoing dialogue. 

Cultural Integration  

Rather than relying on superficial symbolism, this house embeds cultural memory and local identity into its  details. Sliding doors in the mother’s tea room incorporate handcrafted Taiwanese latticework, referencing her  childhood in Yilan and transforming personal memory into tactile light and shadow. 

_{Above: Chih-Da Jason Lin’s mother’s bedroom, the floral motifs}  

_{in this window patrician’s lattice designs symbolizes prosperity,}  

_{peace and longevity. This bedroom is connected to the}  

_{meditation room and the bathroom, with movable track doors}  

_{enabling an efficient spatial circulation.}

Traditional Taiwanese decorative window patterns originate from the architectural ornamentation systems of  Southern Fujian tradition. Through a long process of localization, they have integrated natural imagery,  auspicious symbolism, and craft aesthetics, forming a distinctive visual language unique to the region.  

_{Above: corridor leading to mother’s bedroom,}  

_{feature with Qing dynasty cabinet and buddhist}  

_{sculpture from Song-Yuan period.} 

_{Above: Corner of Chih-Da Jason Lin’s mother’s  bedroom. Bed from WITTMANN.} 

_{Above: The guqin (wall-mounted piece on the}  

_{left), also known as the Chinese seven-stringed}  

_{zither, is part of the owner’s private collection.} 

_{Bookshelf design by Franco Albini.}  

_{Chair by SHANGXIA, eggshell lacquer limited} 

_{edition, made from carbon fiber.}

These elements weave together the family’s personal history, allowing materials to serve as vessels of memory and emotion. Long-collected Italian vintage pieces and Minnan-style antique furniture from Taiwan further  reinforce a quiet continuity between past and present.

_{Above: The wall behind the tea area is finished with
hand-dyed textile panels created by a local tea
master, grounding the space in regional craft
traditions. Northern Wei Buddhist sculptures and
antique boxes.}

Buddhist sculptures and Zen-inspired elements, distributed throughout the home, transcend specific religious  meanings, instead reflecting a shared pursuit of inner peace—transforming the residence into a contemplative  spiritual environment. 

Social Significance  

As a contemporary model of urban living, Chih-Da Jason Lin’s parents’ home transcends the notion of residence.  It dissolves the boundary between high-value art and everyday life, allowing museum-quality works to nurture daily  experience and emotional well-being. The design prioritizes the habits and sensibilities of its inhabitants— particularly for his parents—offering a nuanced interpretation of warmth and appropriateness in Chinese domestic  space. 

_{Above: Chih-Da Jason Lin’s bedroom – bed from Cassina,} 

_{wall light by Baxter – Button, designed by Federico Peri;}  

_{Floor lamp from FLOS, designed by Philippe Starck. Sculpt} 

_{ures on the top of console from Asian sculpturer JU Ming.}

Extending the cultural legacy of Qingtian Street into the interior, the project creates a seamless dialogue between  architecture and its urban context. In doing so, it offers a rare retreat within the bustling city—a place of “true  seclusion with the world.” Here, the rational framework of architecture establishes spatial order, while furnishings  and art infuse warmth and meaning. Family heritage, art collection, and contemporary living philosophy  intertwine, transforming everyday life into an immersive, layered aesthetic experience. 

Project Information  

Project name: Taipei Collector’s House  

Location: Qingtian Street, Da’an District, Taipei  

Design company: Superorganism Architects  

Chief designer: Chih-Da Jason Lin 

Soft decoration and accessorizing: Tiffany Shi  

Design period: 2023.1-6  

Construction period: 2023.7 – 2025.7  

Total interior area: 350 sqm 

Total budget: 7 million RMB 

Main materials: Oak, Tiles, Marble, Wall Paints Photographer: Boris Shiu