Designed by dot and associates and completed in 2020, House ½ is a 45-square-meter family home located in Taiwan. Built using a tongue and groove technique in cooperation with a carpentry factory in Kochi, Japan, the construction and interior living requirements were completed in just six weeks. The project's name comes from the philosophy of leaving the house "half empty" instead of cramming it with possessions, thereby focusing on sensory experiences and connections with the natural environment.

The home is located on a heavily forested site, designed to integrate with the landscape without removing trees. A white pavilion near a temple at the entrance provides a resting area for visitors. The house is intended to be adaptable and transformative, promoting an "offline life" and connection to the outdoors with features like movable furniture, a barbecue grill that functions as a kitchen, and camping chairs for the living room.

The interior has an open-plan layout, with a small loft above the main living area for sleeping. A large central pillar in front of the foyer supports the home and is meant to symbolize family unity. The roof was deliberately left exposed to the elements to assess its resilience in Taiwan's climate. Camphor wood chips surrounding the cabin provide fragrance and deter insects. The house is designed to withstand typhoons and requires only human assembly.

Credits

Architects: dot and associates

Lead Architect: Hide Lin

Photography: OS studio

Location: Pingzhen District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan

Year: 2020

Area: 45 m²