![Opening Row House / Emerge Architects - Exterior Photography, Windows, Facade](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5ad3/7bd5/f197/ccc2/b400/0416/newsletter/01.jpg?1523809230)
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Architects: Emerge Architects
- Area: 107 m²
- Year: 2018
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Photographs:Studio Millspace
![Opening Row House / Emerge Architects - Exterior Photography, Windows, Facade](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5ad3/7f48/f197/cc5c/9600/0943/medium_jpg/12.jpg?1523810113)
Text description provided by the architects. Averagely 220 wet days per year plus frequent typhoon landings, a newly reform area incorporating alleys exclusively designed for pedestrian activities, with the dwelling needs of urban lifestyle and wide age range. What is the housing reflecting Yilan’s terroir and people?
![Opening Row House / Emerge Architects - Exterior Photography, Windows, Facade](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5ad3/7f15/f197/ccc2/b400/0423/medium_jpg/10.jpg?1523810061)
Within 6*30m site, we propose three approaches in our design. First, by imputing an “Open Rain-sound Courtyard”, which serves as the spatial core. Second approach was to develop the “relative high-rise” comparing to lower rural houses, each level is planned with a “three dimensional living patios”, potted and functional for activities as well. Lastly, in the mid of a city lacking of open space, we aspire to elevate our rooftop garden as a new ground, suitable for watching the stars and listening to the ocean in urban solitude. “To Open and To Connect” is the strategy to answer the proposition.
![Opening Row House / Emerge Architects - Image 15 of 19](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5ad3/7ca3/f197/ccc2/b400/0417/newsletter/1.1.2-_AA'Section.jpg?1523809263)
Ground level opened to the street: Originally the garage, now reassigned to be part of public arcade for passersby, also for activities in the rain season.
Continuous courtyards: Each unit has a garden courtyard, with further plan linking them to form an ecological corridor.
![Opening Row House / Emerge Architects - Image 3 of 19](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5ad3/7f09/f197/cc5c/9600/0940/newsletter/9.jpg?1523810049)
![Opening Row House / Emerge Architects - Image 16 of 19](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5ad3/7baf/f197/ccc2/b400/0415/newsletter/1.1.2-_1F_Plan100_A2.jpg?1523809178)
![Opening Row House / Emerge Architects - Image 9 of 19](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5ad3/7e1a/f197/cc5c/9600/0938/newsletter/04.jpg?1523809810)
Back alley open space: Kitchens are opened to the back alley, or lively alley, comprising vegetable gardens and outdoor sinks. Culs-de-sac become a community space for neighborly events.
Rain-sound open courtyard: Life and space both spread from the center courtyard, where to perceive Yilan’s rain and the subtle change of season.
![Opening Row House / Emerge Architects - Interior Photography, Chair](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5ad3/7e7e/f197/ccc2/b400/041f/medium_jpg/06-1.jpg?1523809906)
Atrium to connect spaces and activities: a continuous curvy ceiling, fir-wood plate molded concrete, makes up the atrium. The atrium connects kitchen-dining room on the first floor, living rooms, hallway library, and a 3.5 m-deep semi-outdoor space on the second floor. By connecting the spaces, the atrium also gathers the activities in the house. For house shrine on the third floor, 2-story high book wall and a tearoom on the fourth floor, another huge slope roof covers all. An open riser staircase ventilates the house vertically and exhales the heat out.
![Opening Row House / Emerge Architects - Image 17 of 19](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5ad3/7bc9/f197/cc5c/9600/0931/newsletter/1.1.2-_2F_Plan100_A2.jpg?1523809204)
Facing the road [outward], hollow brick façade gives a sense of ambiguity, and serves as frontier against typhoon. Facing courtyard and back alley [inward], vast openings let enjoyable sunshine and greenery in. Obscure outward but open inward, is a statement of attitude for new urban living.
An ecological pond, a vegetable farm in the backyard and a roof garden with esculent growth, are the natural touches proposed in the urban life.
![Opening Row House / Emerge Architects - Image 11 of 19](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5ad3/7ed2/f197/cc5c/9600/093d/medium_jpg/07.jpg?1523809995)
Metaphors and Symbols
On Yilan Plain, Toucheng village shows traits of vernacular landscape: glossy shingle beach, cuesta rocks, aged alleys, ancient arcades, endless paddy field, pitched roof, rooftop additions, washed granolithic finishing, red bricks, corridors, housing courtyards, and potting sheds… All remerged in a new form in the building.
![Opening Row House / Emerge Architects - Exterior Photography, Facade, Windows](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5ad3/7cc6/f197/ccc2/b400/0418/medium_jpg/02.jpg?1523809470)