The Inner Square of Uzès

The residence sits on the ground floor, oriented toward a shared courtyard where daylight and air are drawn inward. Originally limited by low ceilings and rigid compartments, the space lacked both atmosphere and adaptability. Yet this position, adjacent to the courtyard, offered a chance to transform constraint into quality.

Once walked through the villages of southern France, where arched thresholds and textured walls framed the cadence of the owners’ trip. That impression was distilled into intention. The design sought to extract the essence of those scenes, focusing on material character and community spirit, and weave it into the fabric of a Taiwanese home. The goal was a place rooted in durability and composure, where memories could evolve into a new rhythm of living.

Concrete strategies guided this pursuit. Arched passages were introduced to dissolve rigid partitions and choreograph flow between rooms. Ceiling heights were adjusted to create a more open spatial rhythm, while daylight from the courtyard was drawn into the center of the plan. Mineral plaster with visible brushwork captured tonal variation, stone flooring anchored the rooms with weight, and hand-finished timber brought tactile warmth. These actions established coherence across the dwelling, producing spaces that feel measured rather than ornamental.

The atmosphere that emerged is reminiscent of a small European square, sheltered yet open, where light pools gently and air circulates with ease. This inner–outdoor quality became the project’s visual and spatial anchor, a place where one might imagine the distant chime of a church bell. By aligning spatial flow with durable materials and calibrated proportions, the renovation has brought clarity and longevity to the residence. It translates memory into context, sustaining balance between cultural essence and contemporary living.