Alley 10 House by True Thing Design Studio: Reimagining Urban Memory Through Contemporary Interior Design

A Transformation Rooted in History

Located in the heart of Taichung, Taiwan, the Alley 10 House by True Thing Design Studio redefines how urban memory and modern living can coexist. This 132-square-meter, three-story townhouse sits within the former height-restricted zone of the old Shui Nan Airport — once a landscape of farmlands and vegetable gardens, woven together by winding alleyways.

As the city underwent redevelopment, many of these alleys disappeared, leaving behind fragments of history and a sense of disorientation. The address “Lane 10” — a place that could no longer be precisely located — became both the project’s conceptual anchor and its name, embodying a nostalgic connection to what once existed.

Reorganizing the Townhouse: Dual Functions in Harmony

The renovation transforms a 45-year-old structure into a multifunctional space that seamlessly merges living and working environments. By using the central staircase on the second floor as a natural divider, the architects redefined the spatial organization: one side functions as a shared workspace, while the other serves as a private residence.

This dual-purpose approach reflects contemporary lifestyle needs, where boundaries between professional and personal spaces have become increasingly fluid.

Revealing the Layers of Time: The Ground-Floor Office

On the ground floor, the office area becomes a dialogue between past and present. Selective demolition reveals the original brick structure of the old house, allowing the architectural memory of the building to surface.

Openings of various sizes punctuate the space, creating visual and physical connections that bring natural light and transparency deep into the narrow layout. This design strategy transforms the interior into a kind of “urban alley” — a microcosm of the city’s lost spatial rhythm, now reinterpreted indoors.

Post-Pandemic Design: A Thoughtful Residential Retreat

In the residential section, the architects integrate functionality with mindful living. The entryway cleverly combines a wardrobe and laundry area, enabling users to change and clean immediately upon returning home. This spatial gesture embodies a post-pandemic awareness of hygiene and wellness, reflecting how design can respond to shifting societal values.

Material choices such as wood and concrete balance warmth with raw authenticity, creating a tranquil domestic environment that feels both modern and grounded.

Fluid Boundaries and Shared Spaces on the Third Floor

The third floor prioritizes openness and social connection. Generous shared spaces are emphasized, while the sleeping quarters remain minimal and discreet. The bedroom door employs a concealed pivot system that tucks seamlessly into the wall when open, erasing rigid boundaries and allowing spaces to flow naturally into one another.

This thoughtful detail exemplifies True Thing Design Studio’s sensitivity to spatial fluidity, blurring the line between private and communal life.

A Contemporary Interpretation of the Alley

Through its design, Alley 10 House becomes a metaphor for the Taiwanese urban transformation itself — a reinterpretation of old alleyways as interior passageways filled with light, texture, and memory. True Thing Design Studio’s approach celebrates imperfection and continuity, crafting a home that resonates with cultural heritage, spatial depth, and contemporary comfort.

All photographs are works of Yi-Hsien Lee and Associates YHLAA