Din-a-ka

Residence, a construction of life’s memories. The “Din-a-ka”, or covered walkway, was a distinct cultural and architectural feature in the early days of Taiwan’s agrarian society. It was the place for social exchanges in rural life. In the rapidly changing social landscape, Din-a-ka is an obscure feature, rarely found these days outside fond memories of the past. The curved structure in the hallway provides a smoothness and variance to the circulation, in addition to its storage function. Using a sculptural process, the designer gave the curve’s facade a weathered and aged appearance, adding rusted metal and gold foil to the grayish black material. The curve, lit by strip lighting and the parallel wall paneled with aged Taiwan cypress (Hinoki) form a passageway, as if it is leading back in time.