讀後心得

Since its establishment in 2001, Cheng-Tian Architecture Research Institute has been dedicated to creating a "harmonious coexistence with nature" living environment. The lead designer, Luo Gengfu, transitioned from a background in psychology to architectural design, emphasizing the harmonious unity of architecture and interior spaces. By incorporating concepts of yin-yang and feng shui, he integrates natural elements into his designs, striving to reduce energy consumption through rational layouts and create livable spaces. Recently, his project in Tainan, the Anping Star Diamond commercial complex, perfectly merges ecology and architecture, providing consumers with a unique shopping experience through natural light and greenery. Looking to the future, he plans to develop public buildings and promote more sustainable design concepts.

Shifting from psychology to architectural design, Luo Gengfu of Cheng Tian Architectural Studio is committed to creating living environments that embody the concept of "harmony between heaven and humanity." He reinterprets the relationship between humans and nature from a unique perspective.

Since its establishment in 2001, Cheng Tian Architectural Studio, under Luo Gengfu's leadership, has consistently adhered to one principle: high-quality design should extend from architecture to interior spaces, achieving a harmonious unity of both. The team also strives for a vocabulary of architecture that coexists with nature, enabling users to genuinely experience the beauty of the natural world. They employ minimalist methods to refine and distill through pure perception and creativity, presenting the essence of things in a concise form.

How did I transition to becoming an interior designer? My background is quite unique; I graduated from Kaohsiung Medical University with a degree in psychology. During my college years, due to family changes, I began working outdoors. Because I had good drawing skills, I came across some design projects, which opened the door to my path in interior design. After accumulating several years of experience, I started to focus on architectural design for nearly twenty years, combining architecture and interior spaces to provide higher-quality design work for clients.

You believe that space is a connection between humans and the environment, so how can this goal be achieved through design? Unlike the lavish interior decorations commonly seen in Asia, I integrate the concepts of yin-yang and feng shui with the natural variations of light, shadows, trees, and reflections of water bodies in both indoor and outdoor spaces, creating environments that embody the unity of heaven and humanity. For different space layouts such as residential, dining, office, or commercial areas, I consider environmental factors like sunlight, wind direction, and air currents, using design to reduce the artificial demand for heating and cooling, creating spaces suitable for human habitation while aligning with sustainability principles.

This year's project that I am most proud of is the commercial plan "Anping Star Diamond," located near Anping Harbor in Tainan, in which I designed the mall "Zhuyue Zhulinh," which occupies the largest area. In this mall, I broke the traditional habit of maximizing energy consumption in shopping centers by adopting a biophilic, organic permeable semi-circular architectural design, replacing typical commercial office spaces and creating an activity venue standing in the forest. Based on nature, the ecological environment of the fishing light island across the water is integrated inland, planting as many as 400 native Taiwanese trees, 100 trees commonly planted in Tainan, and various shrub clusters in both the interior and exterior of the building. This creates rich green spaces and a forest environment, interconnected by bridges that allow people to experience the diverse colors of seasonal changes while strolling through the forest.

To provide more habitat space for wildlife, the building's entrance is lowered, allowing the creatures from Fishing Light Island to move inland and reducing the use of artificial light sources. Ample natural light is introduced into the transparent building spaces, showcasing the effects of time on light and shadows, creating an interesting shopping and dining environment.

The landscape water pool in the design, combined with minimalist floating panels, aligns with the southwest airflow. By interacting the cool air from the pool with the heat accumulated in the wall surface, it creates a continuous thermal buoyancy effect, enhancing the convection and purification efficiency of cold air, effectively reducing the energy demand for air conditioning in large commercial spaces. The Anping Star Diamond project raises the foundation of the Xin Gang Road section through soil movement without external transportation, preserving the site's water and soil while naturally mitigating tsunami risks in coastal areas.

Regarding my sources of creativity, I enjoy facing various challenges, solving terrain and environmental issues in different base environments while meeting the needs of the owners and providing more sustainable design suggestions. In many of my design projects in recent years, I often encounter challenges such as industrial pollution, natural ecological protection, and volume limitations. I hope to resolve these practical difficulties through design, creating spaces that are not only suitable for human activities but also rebuild a small ecological circle within the base itself.

What are the secrets to accomplishing an outstanding interior design project? I believe the core is returning to nature. In selecting materials, color combinations, and spatial layouts, I strive to choose materials that are environmentally certified, reduce decorative consumables, and modularize materials for future direct use. In interior decoration, I use natural totems and landscapes to enhance the interest of the space.

For me, 2023-2024 holds significant meaning, and there will be new design or development directions next year. The year 2023 has been a major turning point; the number of staff in the office has grown, and the complexity and scale of design projects have also increased, presenting new challenges for me and my colleagues. Following the gradual stabilization of the pandemic, we are rethinking how design can change to create healthier buildings. Next year's plans hope to explore more public buildings and collaborate with other firms to construct ecological and sustainable cities.