Wabi-sabi: Celebrating the Natural Passage of Time

The interior design aims to establish a connection between the passage of time and the use of recycled materials. Sustainability lies at the heart of both the spatial layout and the materials used throughout the design. The materials offer durability, safety, and the ability to age gracefully. Much like a person, they inevitably age but remain an everlasting beauty throughout each phase. This reflects the essence of wabi-sabi, an aesthetic that finds beauty in things imperfect, impermanent and incomplete.

The living room on the first floor features a high ceiling that floods the space with abundant natural light while enhancing air circulation and visual openness. The TV wall is clad in faux stone panels, offering the aesthetic appeal of natural stone while reducing environmental impact. At the junctions, deep gray edges make the structural beams appear thinner, providing a visual buffer that softens tension. A U-shaped path along the sky corridor on the second floor unfolds into a quiet window-side nook, inviting moments of stillness while preserving visual and emotional ties to the space below. In the guest room, the open wardrobe is made of recyclable aluminum and solid wood panels, balancing sustainability with functionality. The master bedroom on the third floor is crafted with Japanese-style tatami mats and cedar wood, cultivating a serene and tranquil sleeping environment. The bathroom features pebble finishes, while the ceiling is made of reclaimed Taiwanese cedar sourced from a hot spring hotel, releasing a natural fragrance and embodying the spirit of resource reuse.

In response to the post-pandemic trend of “staycations,” the fourth floor is designed to evoke Balinese-inspired resort vibes. Moisture-resistant and eco-friendly OSB boards, fast-growing bamboo, and a wooden triangular roof create a natural atmosphere. In the outdoor shower, bamboo screens replace solid walls, while the absence of a roof offers an immersive connection with nature.