The C.S.C Residence represents a thoughtful transformation of a 40-year-old multi-story home in Taipei, Taiwan, completed in 2024 by the design team at Shih-shih Interior Design Co., Ltd. Led by designers Lin Chia-Pei and Hu Hsin-Ju, this residential renovation spans approximately 310 square meters and demonstrates how strategic spatial reorganization can revitalize aging urban housing without requiring complete structural replacement. The project showcases a growing trend in Taiwan's major cities where homeowners choose to renovate existing properties rather than demolish and rebuild, preserving neighborhood character while meeting modern lifestyle needs.
The design strategy centers on creating an integrated public zone that serves as the heart of family life and social gatherings. Upon entering the residence, occupants encounter an open kitchen anchored by a substantial cooking island that immediately establishes the home's contemporary sensibility. A continuous row of windows positioned directly above the kitchen counter functions as the primary source of natural daylight for the public areas, allowing sunlight to penetrate deep into the interior and create changing patterns of light throughout the day. This emphasis on natural illumination reflects a broader movement in Taiwanese interior design that prioritizes energy efficiency and connection to the outdoors, even in dense urban environments.
At the center of the main level, a circular dining table designed to accommodate up to ten people establishes a natural gathering point for daily meals and special occasions. This communal element is further enhanced by a dedicated tea-making area and tea bar that extends the public zone deeper into the residence. Additional windows in this area supplement the natural lighting strategy, ensuring that shared spaces remain bright and welcoming throughout daylight hours while minimizing dependence on artificial illumination. The layered arrangement of these functional areas creates a sense of flow and connectivity that encourages family interaction while maintaining distinct zones for different activities.
Private and wellness functions are strategically aligned along the building's elongated façade to maximize privacy and views while maintaining spatial continuity. This zone includes the master bedroom suite, a guest bedroom, a home gym, and a luxurious sauna area complete with hot and cold pools. By positioning these personal spaces along the perimeter, the designers created a clear distinction between public and private realms without resorting to harsh divisions or corridors that would fragment the overall spatial experience. This approach allows each private area to benefit from natural light and ventilation while remaining acoustically and visually separated from the home's social heart.
A staircase adjacent to the tea-making area leads to an upper level conceived as a flexible, open-plan environment that accommodates entertainment and study functions. This floor houses a home theater, an open study area, and a bar, with subtle variations in floor level used to articulate different functional zones without erecting walls. These level changes add architectural depth and visual interest while preserving the fluid circulation patterns that define the residence's contemporary character. The entertainment room opens through full-height glazed walls to a landscaped garden pond, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor connection that can be fully opened during favorable weather conditions.
The C.S.C Residence exemplifies how sensitive renovation can transform aging urban housing into sophisticated modern dwellings that respect their original context while embracing contemporary lifestyle priorities. By focusing on spatial reorganization rather than wholesale reconstruction, Shih-shih Interior Design Co., Ltd. delivered a solution that is both environmentally responsible and culturally attuned to Taipei's evolving residential landscape. The project demonstrates that thoughtful design interventions can amplify inherent spatial qualities while creating new opportunities for light, connection, and multigenerational living in vertical urban homes.
