When Light Dances in a Historic Home

Half Day House
Architects: Cabinet YFY
Area: 114 m²
Year: 2023
Photographs: Studio Millspace
Lead Architects: Yu-Hsuan Lin
Lead Team: Yu-Hsuan Lin
City: Kaohsiung
Country: Taiwan

Half Day House, designed by Cabinet YFY in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, is a thoughtful renovation of a 1960s structure that once served as a dormitory for the Japanese Navy. Architect Yu-Hsuan Lin transformed the space into a hybrid living and working environment by blending elements of nature, historical memory, and spiritual symbolism. Featuring a transparent roof and central pool that diffuses natural light, the design fosters fluid visual connections and layered spatial experiences. Rather than restoring the building to its original form, the renovation embraces the evolving nature of domestic life in Taiwan, creating a poetic, dynamic space where past and present coexist.