Comfort in Context is a project designed by Chain10 Architecture & Interior Design Institute. The property is adjacent to the low-density residential area of the Agongdian Reservoir in the mountains of Kaohsiung. To escape from the bustling urban lifestyle, we closely connect our project with the environment, an area that is rich in greens and hills. Photography by MOOOTEN Studio, KyleYu Photo Studio.
. 
Typically, projects like this cause great damage to the environment due to their location. Human activities inevitably destroy the habitats of wild species. Keeping the environment in mind, we minimize the size of the architecture to make sure water resources can be absorbed by the ground and passed through to the water table as much as possible for water management has become one of the greatest issues to humanity. At the same time, by minimizing the architecture, less artificial lighting will be installed in this area, disturbing the original habitat less as well as being a savior of energy resources.
Instead of controlling the environment to fit the project, we adapt our design to nature. We abandon the typical building direction in this area and make the building an east-west horizontal direction. With façades on the east and west sides, we create a suspended shape to increase the shaded coverage, blocking the severe sunlight. Along with the green slope facing the southward hilly land, it not only echoes the greenness around but also secures enough privacy. We keep most windows on the north and south side of the building, bringing in enough natural light into the building when the east-west direct sunlight is blocked to prevent high temperatures. At the same time, the windows allow the typical southwesterly wind blowing through the reservoir in summer to become a natural air conditioner. Partnered with the southside green slop, the trees become an air filter that improves the air quality of the southwesterly wind. Factoring in the wind direction with the architectural design allows better ventilation, reduces the need for electricity, and lowers to a comfortable temperature.
The living room has always been the focus of the family. This is a space that creates great family memories. The main kitchen area is set up in a way for typical Chinese family cooking activity while satisfying the need for functional storage at the same time. There is also a platform storage cabinet opposite the central island on the back side against the wall. The metal trim layer that descends from the ceiling creates visual variability in the kitchen while also serving as decor. The interior design styles the cabinets with earthen colors to mirror the outdoor natural environment, displaying light and shadow, especially with low-reflective interior decorative materials.
The south-facing hilly green slopes situated in the courtyard extend a wilder public space for the family. Along with the movement of light and shadow in the yard created by trees and the large floor-to-ceiling windows displaying natural light into the living area, we create a sanctuary away from the stresses of city life and bring liveliness to the residents.
To us, protecting the environment is not just words but actions. Better ventilation design and lighting reduce energy consumption. Environmentally friendly materials such as the exterior building’s galvanized steel paint and sustainable interior decoration have been extensively used to reduce carbon emissions and better for maintaining sustainability. It is our goal and priority to create beautiful architecture in line with protecting nature.