House of Light Well Residence

The vertical light well in Chun Yen Chen's Residence functions as an archetypal axis mundi, the cosmic pillar connecting earthly dwelling to celestial realm, a symbolic structure found across cultures from shamanic traditions to sacred architecture. The living tree planted at the heart of this domestic space carries profound mythological resonance as the World Tree or Tree of Life, rooted in earth while reaching toward sky, its presence transforming functional interior into symbolic landscape of growth, renewal, and the eternal cycle of seasons. The descent of natural light through the overhead aperture suggests sacred architectural traditions where zenithal illumination symbolized divine presence, the phenomenological experience of dwelling beneath this luminous void invoking contemplation of the relationship between human shelter and cosmic order. The chromatic restraint of white surfaces carries associations of purity, clarity, and potential, creating a contemplative ground against which the organic presence of timber and vegetation reads as affirmation of natural warmth within constructed space. The staircase as symbolic element references the universal archetype of ascent, the journey between levels of consciousness or being, its diagonal trajectory suggesting progressive elevation and transformation. The number of levels visible implies a tripartite structure, potentially evoking traditional cosmological divisions of underworld, earth, and heaven, or psychologically, unconscious, conscious, and superconscious realms. The threshold quality of this space, neither purely interior nor exterior with its tree and sky connection, establishes liminality associated with transformation and passage. The integration of smooth river stones around the tree base introduces elemental symbolism of water and earth, while the metal and glass stair components represent fire-worked materials and transparency. This composition proposes dwelling as participation in cosmic rhythms rather than separation from natural order, suggesting that authentic habitation requires acknowledgment of our place within larger cycles of light, growth, and seasonal transformation.

This is originally a row house for decades, which is attached to one of the row houses in the block. The total length of the row house is about 30 meters. The original building structure is divided into two buildings at the front and back by the light well in the middle. The original light well only served as the function of additional day-lighting, which is surrounded by negative spaces such as stairs and toilets. The front of the row house faces the narrow and dense commercial street, and the backyard is used as the main entrance of the house.