This Renovated Taipei Apartment Sees the Glass Brick Trend All the Way Through

Apartment living in dense cities in Asia is typically associated with small rooms and dark corridors. Not so in this roughly 1,300-square-foot unit in Taipei, renovated by designer firm Phoebe Says Wow. Breaking the stereotype, the firm has created a commodious and light-filled home for a couple and their Siberian husky.

"The client is an established hotel manager. He and his wife acquired this apartment to be close to where he is working in the city," shares Shihhwa Hung, who runs the firm together with Phoebe Wen. "There wasn’t a significant change to the layout, but rather a refining process to improve the circulation and spatial experience. The tonal setting, daylight quality, as well as textures contribute to the ‘mellow’ [palette]," he adds, referring to their naming of the apartment Mellow House.

The couple wanted a contemporary home with a relaxed atmosphere and a flexible layout, as they intended to expand the family. Before renovations evan began, the couple was expecting their first child.

The original, uninspiring layout featured a combined living and dining area followed by a corridor leading to three bedrooms. The wall between the living area and study room was demolished and replaced with a wall entirely made from glass blocks. The transparency allows light from both rooms to penetrate while offering visual connection so that the couple can always feel each other’s presence in the home.