Situated within the primeval subtropical forests of the mountainous region of Yilan in northeastern Taiwan, an area renowned for its hot spring culture. The project is conceived as an embodiment of balance between the natural environment and human habitation. It seeks to emphasize the cultural and ecological significance of water as a formative element of the landscape. 

In Yilan, water plays a fundamental role in shaping both the natural environment and local culture. It nourishes dense forests, forms numerous waterfalls, flows through rivers, and ultimately reaches the Pacific Ocean. This continuous hydrological cycle is renowned for its exceptional purity, and local residents have long integrated water thoughtfully into their daily lives and cultural practices.

The architecture draws inspiration from nature-integrated design, exemplified by local hot spring traditions, which demonstrate a harmonious coexistence among water, topography, and human activity. Following this principle, the architecture seeks to embed water as an active and experiential element within the building, extending its role beyond functional utility to become a medium through which spatial, sensory, and cultural dimensions are articulated.

The project is conceived as a forest clearing—a pond—drawing on two primitive spatial archetypes: the den and the nest. The den is sunken, heavy, and shadowed; the nest is elevated, light, and open to the sky. The house reconciles these conditions by pairing an earthbound, stereotomic interior with an open, elevated retreat.

A sunken living space is encircled by four load-bearing masses that define a central communal area, with corner niches admitting daylight. One mass shifts toward the pool to form a larger opening, creating an earthen tea space where the landscape extends into the interior. Bedrooms are carved into three masses, partially buried and oriented toward the hillside, reinforcing intimacy and continuity with the terrain. The fourth mass contains bathing spaces and a spiral stair leading to a roof sauna, where you emerge from below the surface of the pond, a cascading plane of water reflecting the sky and trees. A glass box sauna and deck provide moments to enjoy the open canopy.