A Home That Breathes: The Inner Philosophy of SIH FANG YUAN — Award-Winning Architecture by Chun Yueh Construction Ltd

In the landscape of contemporary Taiwanese residential architecture, CaiBao Guo of Chun Yueh Construction Ltd., whose project SIH FANG YUAN (俬房院) was honored at the Future Art & Design Award UK 2025 Autumn Season, stands out as a figure whose work unites craftsmanship, humanistic vision, and a profound understanding of how architecture connects people, culture, and the passage of time.

Born in Hualien, surrounded by Qixingtan’s horizon, Taroko’s cliffs, and the wind of the Pacific Ocean, CaiBao Guo grew up in a world where nature itself served as a teacher. Light, wind, and water were not abstract concepts—they were daily experience. These early encounters shaped his belief that architecture is not merely shelter; it is a living organism that breathes, listens, and evolves with its inhabitants.

After years of hands-on work in architectural engineering and construction, CaiBao Guo founded Chun Yueh Construction Ltd. in Toufen, Miaoli, later establishing the Chun Yueh Architectural Research Institute in 2015. His work, influenced by global travels across Europe, Asia, and Southeast Asia, brings together Taiwanese culture, world-class design insight, and a philosophy rooted in emotional intelligence.

His award-winning project SIH FANG YUAN (俬房院) embodies this ethos: a home that lives, breathes, and grows with a family — guided by four core vocabularies: grilles, the daydream pavilion, interconnected rooms, and the inner light well.

Q: Please give us a brief introduction about yourself and your creative background.

CaiBao: I come from Taiwan’s most beautiful eastern region—Hualien. After graduating from Hualien Vocational High School of Industry and Commerce, Department of Architecture, I grew up watching the sea of Qixingtan, the mountains of Taroko, and feeling the wind from the Pacific Ocean. That magnificent landscape taught me one thing: sunlight, air, and water are not only the foundation of a home, but also the soul of architecture. After entering the professional field, I dedicated many years to hands-on architectural practice. I founded Chun Yue Construction in Toufen, Miaoli, and later established the Chun Yue Architectural Research Institute in 2015, where I serve as the director. For years, my focus has been on exploring how to design a home that grows and evolves with its family— to make architecture not just a place to live, but a living home that breathes, feels, and understands life. My creative vision comes from years of traveling and exploring countries around the world. I’ve visited the ancient cities of Europe, the metropolises of Asia, and the tropical islands of Southeast Asia— experiencing the essence of each culture’s architecture, and observing how people live and define quality of life. From the artistic expressions of Spain, to the subtle spatial design of Japan; from the natural retreats of Bali, to the courtyard culture of Shanghai— each journey has led me to reflect: What kind of lifestyle is truly “livable”? These cross-cultural experiences have become the foundation and inspiration for my creations. I transform my global observations into a Taiwanese architectural language, so that every resident can feel that their emotions are understood, embraced, and cared for. Architecture, to me, is a vessel of emotion— through the flow of light, wind, and time, it shapes a uniquely Taiwanese world-class aesthetic of living. To date, I have been honored with seven National Architecture Gold Awards and eight international design awards, including the Rome Design Awards, London Design Awards, FADA, MUSE, and the French Design Awards, among others. These recognitions are not merely honors, but responsibilities— a mission to let the world see the depth of Taiwanese architecture, and to feel the warmth and soul of home through our designs. Today, we are actively promoting the “Hualien Vocational Seed Project”, inviting junior students from Hualien Vocational High School—no matter their department or specialty— to follow in their seniors’ footsteps and join our team in Toufen, Miaoli. Under the spirit of “Hualien alumni supporting Hualien alumni,” we cultivate talents in architecture, construction, marketing, pastry arts, and more— helping young people gain hands-on experience and build both professional skills and wealth. Eventually, we hope they will return to their hometowns, bringing their expertise back to Hualien. To all the juniors, I say this: “Starting from Hualien Vocational, you can still go global.” When you commit to doing one thing with all your heart, the world will naturally take notice of your name— and you’ll show everyone that Hualien students are not just skilled workers, but people who can bring warmth and meaning to life itself.

Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in creative / art / design?

CaiBao: I come from a background in construction and architectural engineering, having spent many years dedicated to project execution and quality control. This professional experience has given me a deep understanding of space, structure, and detail. Later, I began taking my family on annual self-guided trips abroad, where I could personally compare the differences in living environments between Taiwan and Europe. During these journeys, I realized something profound — the people of Taiwan deserve world-class living quality. With that realization, I decided to extend the rational mindset I developed in construction into the creative and emotional realm of design. I observed how my family reacted when staying in hotels overseas — studying the spatial proportions they enjoyed, the circulation or atmosphere they disliked — and then translated those insights, through the lens of an architect, into residential designs truly suited to the way Taiwanese people live. To me, this has been a journey from construction to creation — and a personal mission to let my family, and more people, experience what it means to live in world-class homes.

Q: Can you describe the creative process behind your work and what motivates you to create?

CaiBao: Whenever I receive a piece of land, I spend a quiet week there— observing the direction of the wind, the path of sunlight, and the flow of sounds. I imagine: who will live here in the future? What kind of life will they lead? These images become the starting point of my creation. I approach architecture with the eyes of an artist. In my mind, a building should stand proudly for fifty, even eighty years. When people pass by, they should see not just a house, but feel the artistic value and aesthetic spirit it carries. People may leave, but architecture remains— it continues to converse with its surroundings, and with time itself. To seek such inspiration, I have traveled around the world. In Spain, I witnessed how Gaudí allowed architecture to breathe freely with nature. In Bali, I learned to make rest an integral part of architecture. In Tokyo, I experienced the rhythm between order, emptiness, and light. And finally, in Shanghai, walking through the courtyards of Tianzifang, I discovered the soul of “Chinese space.” Chinese culture values the connection of family— Father, mother, and children share a space that balances communal interaction and private tranquility. This inspired me to bring the courtyard concept into my project “SIH FANG YUAN (俬房院).” On the first floor, I designed a living room and a parent’s suite that open to a rear garden for family interaction. On the second floor, an inner light well brings daylight deep into the private rooms, allowing the intimate spaces to breathe with softness and light. Such a layout nurtures natural family bonds and enriches the dimensions of daily life. It’s more than just spatial planning—it’s an extension of a life philosophy. What drives me to create is the hope that through architecture, the stories of home will continue in the dance of light and time— that each building can become a vessel of shared family memories. I believe—architecture is the art of time, and the vessel of human emotion.

Q: What was the most exciting or challenging part of creating the work you submitted to the competition?

CaiBao: During the design process of SIH FANG YUAN 俬房院), the most challenging — and most talked-about — aspect was my bold decision to carve out a light well and sky well within the elongated building mass — creating an inner courtyard. At the time, some critics questioned me: “Isn’t this just like the old houses in Lukang? Why bring such traditional thinking into a modern residence?” But to me, that is precisely where the true value of design lies. Given the narrow and elongated site, without an opening in the middle, light cannot penetrate, air cannot circulate, and life itself becomes enclosed. I chose to let the building breathe — to draw light into the interior through the courtyard, allowing natural light to cascade through every floor, and enabling the life and emotions of the home to gather and flow once more. This design gave SIH FANG YUAN its most distinctive soul — a courtyard of light and shadow, something that belongs only to this home, and to no other. It represents not only a breakthrough in form, but a steadfastness in philosophy: to reinterpret the wisdom of traditional spatial design through the language of modern architecture. That dialogue — between light, wind, and people — is the moment in my creative process that excites me the most, and fills me with pride.

Q: How would you describe your creative style and the key characteristics that define your work?

CaiBao: My creative style blends the rationality of architectural practice with the sensitivity of observing everyday life. I believe that architecture is not merely a form; it is a living entity that can breathe, converse, and grow with time. In SIH FANG YUAN, this belief is concretely expressed through four core design vocabularies: grilles, daydream pavilion, interconnected rooms, and light wells. 1. Grilles | The Expression and Protection of Architecture Grilles are the most iconic exterior element of SIH FANG YUAN They prevent outsiders from looking in, while allowing residents to freely gaze outward—a visual balance of “boundaried yet open,” perfectly interpreting the modern home’s relationship between privacy and openness. At the same time, grilles serve a safety function, preventing children from approaching window edges and reducing fall risks. To me, grilles are not just the architectural expression of a home—they are its first line of defense. They allow sunlight to pass through, let the wind flow, and give family members a sense of security while living inside. 2. Daydream Pavilion | The Philosophy of the Fifth Facade The Daydream Pavilion is my interpretation of the “fifth facade”—an extension of the roof. I want the roof to be more than just a structural cap; it should be an extension of daily life. Here, family members can look at the sky, daydream, drink coffee, or do absolutely nothing. It is a “slow architecture” that helps people reconnect with the rhythm of nature amidst the bustle of everyday life. 3. Interconnected Rooms | Spaces That Grow with the Family The interior layout of SIH FANG YUAN revolves around the concept of interconnected rooms, designed to adapt to the changing life cycle of a family—from newlyweds to infancy, to a household in full bloom. Spaces can adjust according to relationships: doors can separate for privacy or connect for interaction. I hope the home’s spaces can evolve alongside the family, making the architecture a container that accompanies life’s stages. 4. Light Wells and Windows | Letting Light Become the Soul of Home The light well is the soul of SIH FANG YUAN. I carved a vertical “light well” in the center of the elongated volume, a system of courtyard and windows that allows natural light to pour in, wind to circulate, and visual lines to extend upward toward the sky. This feature not only improves lighting and ventilation but also transforms the second-floor space into a natural gathering spot—a second living room for the family. By day, sunlight moves across the walls; by night, moonlight becomes the new illumination. I want light to be more than mere illumination—it should be a force that unites the family. ⸻ These four elements form the stylistic vocabulary of my work: grilles are expression, the daydream pavilion is rhythm, interconnected rooms are growth, and the light well is soul. This is SIH FANG YUAN—a breathing home, where light, wind, and family coexist.

Q: What has been your experience participating in the competition? Were you satisfied with the process and results?

CaiBao: For me, 2025 has been a year full of achievement and honor. SIH FANG YUAN has once again received international recognition, allowing the world to witness the strength of Taiwanese architectural design. The joy and pride I feel are beyond words. This award is not only an acknowledgment of my personal professional expertise but also a tribute and resonance with the architectural spirit rooted in Hualien, my hometown, and Toufen, where I have cultivated my practice. It proves that architecture originating from local communities can also be seen and appreciated by the world. Through this competition, I revisited my creative thinking and gained a clearer understanding of how I should continue to grow and break new ground on the international stage. This experience has made me realize deeply that my work serves not only residents in Taiwan but also anyone in the world who pursues aesthetic living and the soul of architecture. This honor has become a driving force for my continued creation. The spirit of SIH FANG YUAN now extends to my subsequent projects — 〈Qun Yue Anman〉 and 〈Qun Yue Yangman〉. In designing these two buildings, I have carried forward the four core design elements of SIH FANG YUAN: the expression and protection of lattices, the “fifth façade” philosophy of the daydream pavilion, flexible interior spaces that grow with the family, and the rhythm of life created through windows and natural light. I hope that this philosophy can evolve from the scale of single houses to the heights of urban buildings, allowing the warmth of home, the direction of light, and the flow of wind to continue in every floor and every window. For me, winning an award is not the end but a new beginning — an opportunity for the world to continually recognize the depth and warmth of Taiwanese architecture.

Q: Where do you see the future of the art and design industry heading in the next 5-10 years?

CaiBao: I believe that over the next five to ten years, art and design will move toward “infinite creativity within limited spaces.” As land becomes scarcer and property prices continue to rise, residential lifestyles are shifting from traditional houses to vertical apartment living. The transition from 50-ping (approximately 165 m²) to 30-ping (approximately 100 m²) units is not just a matter of reduced area—it represents a reconstruction of lifestyle thinking and an upgrade in design intelligence. Future designs must be more flexible and adaptable, creating multiple possibilities within limited spaces. Take my recent design for Qun Yue Yang Man as an example: I combined two traditional small balconies into a single 1.8-meter-deep large balcony. It is no longer just a place for drying clothes, but a multifunctional living platform where one can wash laundry, hand-wash clothes, experience a camping-like atmosphere, or practice yoga. When the balcony extends into daily life, the home gains a second “breathing space.” At the same time, I integrated the 2.7-meter kitchen with the 1.8-meter balcony, creating a 4.5-meter-long living corridor where light, aroma, sound, and interaction coexist along the same axis. The kitchen is no longer just a place for cooking, but becomes the emotional core of family life. I also reinterpreted the logic of space: Two traditional separate rooms were transformed into interconnected spaces that can adapt to the family’s life cycle—from newlyweds to infancy, full household, and empty nest—allowing the home to evolve naturally with time and emotion. In bathroom design, I reorganized “two bathrooms” into two toilets and a shared shower room, making circulation more efficient, maintenance easier, and daily life freer. All of these designs point to the same future trend: design is not merely the form of architecture, but the force of living. Every corner can be redefined, and every square meter can embody both poetic and practical value.