Decussate Dorm: Compact Co-living Architecture for a Super-aged Society

Jesden Tang’s Decussate Dorm, honored with an Honorable Mention in the Nano Nest 2020 competition, introduces an innovative and socially responsive approach to compact co-living architecture in Taiwan’s rapidly urbanizing capital. As Taipei experiences a dual demographic trend—an increasingly aged population and a steady influx of foreign exchange students—the project addresses both housing challenges and social fragmentation. It transforms a traditional four-story residential unit into a vibrant, multi-generational shared living environment, seamlessly integrating the lives of a widowed grandmother, her frequently traveling son, and four international students under one roof. The result is a model of urban housing that values connection, functionality, and adaptability in compact spaces.

Site and Urban Context

The site is located along Civic Boulevard in Taipei’s Da’an District, a neighborhood with a layered urban history. Once occupied by railroad-side shops and housing, the area has evolved due to city expansion and infrastructure modernization. The former railroad was relocated and replaced by a flyover, improving transportation and reshaping the spatial dynamics. Over time, the area adopted a grid-like urban structure with aging buildings and compact plots.

The project retains and revitalizes a 40-year-old home—a common type in Taipei known for its narrow façade, dense layout, and utilitarian iron railings. These typical urban houses often suffer from fragmented public spaces and outdated designs. Tang’s intervention respects the existing urban fabric while introducing a new visual and functional logic. The updated design incorporates layered concrete and reinforced glass volumes, optimizing daylight penetration and passive ventilation, and making the home suitable for contemporary multi-user living.

Program and Spatial Strategy

The Decussate Dorm project directly responds to pressing social trends in Taipei. Statistics show that nearly 30% of the local population are foreigners, half of whom are students. Simultaneously, Taiwan is transitioning into a super-aged society, with the proportion of citizens over 65 projected to exceed 20% by 2026. Many elderly residents live alone in underutilized homes, while young students, especially international ones, struggle with affordable housing and social integration.

The design proposes a co-living configuration that reassigns space usage based on social needs rather than traditional hierarchies. Bedrooms are intentionally minimized to essential sleeping and storage functions, encouraging residents to engage in shared areas for dining, studying, and socializing.

Key Features:

• Split-floor zoning: Ground and second floors are adapted for the grandmother’s mobility, with slope access enabling ease of movement.
• Flexible student housing: Compact upper floors host student residents with multifunctional shared areas.
• Bioclimatic design: The form of the building mimics decussate leaves—naturally overlapping structures that maximize sunlight and airflow.
• Efficient construction: Materials such as steel, wood planks, and reinforced concrete are locally available and prefabricated off-site using CNC techniques to reduce on-site pollution and costs.

Design Elements and Atmosphere

The spatial experience is carefully choreographed through interlocking volumes and shifting planes. The axonometric diagrams reveal thoughtful layering—dining zones blend into reading alcoves, and staircases frame greenery and light wells. Safety, visibility, and communal accessibility are prioritized, with the staggered form offering light-filled corridors and passive thermal comfort throughout the building.

• Functional layering: Public and private spaces are stacked to promote interaction while maintaining individual retreat zones.
• Contextual adaptation: The iron mesh elements of old Taipei facades are replaced with modern, open visual languages that still reflect the urban texture.
• Cost-sensitive execution: Leveraging CNC-fabricated panels and standard local materials ensures affordability and replicability.

A New Definition of Home

Decussate Dorm reimagines what it means to live together in a dense urban context. It defies the traditional notion of large personal spaces in favor of quality shared environments that support intergenerational interaction, emotional care, and cultural exchange. In an age where spatial scarcity and loneliness prevail, this model offers a pathway to sustainable, inclusive living.

More than a renovation, the project acts as a prototype for global cities facing similar demographic and housing challenges. It balances heritage preservation, community resilience, and contemporary spatial strategies to redefine the meaning of “home” in a shrinking, aging world.

Project by: Jesden Tang Competition: Nano Nest 2020 – Honorable Mention