The night view of Taipei still held the 'lights of daily life'
Taipei, Taiwan.
Even though it is a city lined with skyscrapers where neon lights never stop flickering, strangely, I do not feel suffocated.
The top photo is the night view seen from Taiwan's landmark hotel, The Grand Hotel Taipei.
The vermilion gate visible below and the roads stretching out gently.
In the distance, the city lights of Taipei spread out quietly.
It is not an 'oppressive' night view like Tokyo's,
but a night view that somehow retains a 'sense of people living there'.
It is a uniquely Taiwanese atmosphere.
The Grand Hotel Taipei was originally a 'Taiwanese state guest house'.
The Grand Hotel Taipei is a classic hotel representing Taiwan, built in 1952.
Actually, this place is not just a luxury hotel.
During the Chiang Kai-shek era, it was used as a 'state guest house' to welcome state guests from various countries.
In other words, it holds a position similar to the Akasaka State Guest House in Japan.
Red pillars, golden roof tiles, and a massive roof.
It has the impact of 'this is Chinese architecture,' but
actually, Taiwanese architecture still retains quite a bit of influence from the Japanese colonial era.
That is why when you walk through Taipei,
old buildings that look Japanese
architecture like a Chinese palace
American-style modern skyscrapers
are naturally mixed together in the same city.
This 'sense of cultural mix' is the interesting thing about the place called Taiwan.
It is interesting to see Taiwan's night view as a set with 'mountains'.
Since Taipei is a basin, you can see the whole city if you go up to a slightly higher ground.
Xiangshan is famous, but
the night view seen from a 'slightly set-back location' like The Grand Hotel Taipei is also quite good.
Moreover, in Taiwan, there are mountains right next to the city.
That is why,
“It’s a city, yet the sky feels so close.”
You get that kind of feeling.
This 'sense of distance between city and nature' is somewhat similar to regional cities in Japan.
Taiwan is a country where 'daily life' feels close.
I feel that many people who love traveling to Taiwan prefer the 'atmosphere' over the tourist spots.
The hustle and bustle of the night markets.
The plastic chairs in front of convenience stores.
The sound of motorbikes.
The 24-hour soy milk shops.
Everything isn't perfect.
But that slightly rough feeling is strangely comforting.
This night view was the same.
Rather than a glittering, spectacular view,
it’s a scene that makes you feel, 'People's lives are continuing in this city.'
Perhaps that is why I never tire of looking at it.
When walking through the streets of Taiwan,
I strongly feel a sense of 'living while making the most of the existing scenery and culture,'
rather than just 'building something new.'
What odd house values is actually quite similar.
It’s not just about addition;
it’s about designing a life that includes light, scenery, open space, and the flow of time.
That philosophy is what odd house has incorporated into its standardized housing.
First, please take a look at our brand philosophy and our series on ways of living.
