Take Inspiration From This Stunning Taiwanese Home By HAO Design

The key to this clever design for a substantial home called ‘The Bridge’ in Tainan City is the series of connected spaces that ensure the Wang family remain close to each other, wherever they are in the house. The final result delivered by HAO Design is a laid-back and welcoming home that makes the most of every room.

Homeowner Mr Wang had a clear vision for his future family home, according to HAO Design. The brief was to maximise the building’s potential while also ensuring the expansiveness of the 785 square-metre (8159 square-feet) property didn’t create isolated spaces.

A ‘bridge’, or walkway, has been designed to connect the wings together, which was originally two separate apartments. This light-filled space caters for a variety of functions and serves as a meeting point for the family at all times of day. This is a recurring theme throughout the property, where there a range of spaces for the family to gather, sit and eat together throughout the five-storey home.

This corridor becomes more like an exotic outdoor terrace by day, with glass roof lights and retro siding letting in plenty of warmth and daylight. After doing volunteer medical work in Africa, Mr Wang was given a variety of folk collectables, which are now artfully displayed along the walls.

A warm and textural palette of honey-coloured timber, teal and crisp whites helps to tie the internal spaces together and provide a relaxed and harmonious interior scheme; the aqua-coloured headboard, kitchen units and soft furnishings all add a pop of colour that livens up the home.

The house contains several unique guest rooms, as well as bedrooms for Mr and Mrs Wang and their two sons. For the older teenage son, there is an American-style locker room wardrobe and a sports-themed decor, while the other son’s bedroom is a calm space with wooden walls, a large-scale copper pendant light and metallic accents.

Possibly the best spot in the house is on the fifth floor, where a green tea-coloured sliding door leads into a serene Japanese-style living room that is filled with light that spills in from the glazing that leads to a balcony. At the heart of this top level is an informal outdoor kitchen and dining space, which is perfect for early-evening meals and entertaining.

Despite its scale, this home still delivers a certain level of intimacy and a laid-back feel that perfectly fits in with the family’s mellow lifestyle.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.