siu siu – Lab of Primitive Senses is an experimental project, which in the architect’s words, “explores the environmental transition between urban space and natural forest”. The space was created by Divooe Zein Architects, a Taiwan-based design firm that believes in the importance of nature. Their director and founder, Divooe Zein, views architecture as a medium that can be used to connect nature and humans. Divooe’s ability to retain the essential functionalities necessary for future occupants while making use of the surrounding environmental influences reveals his designs for what they are – not just mere architectural projects, but thoughtful explorations into the complex relationship between man and nature. The majority of their cases involve unique geographical challenges, such as the project site being located on a small outlying island or deep in the mountains. But these difficulties are easily overcome by the team, as the core of their designs is said to be sourced from the “energy of the land”. While in Taipei recently, I was invited to stop by and spend an afternoon at the Lab of Primitive Senses.
少少——原始感觉研究室，是一个“探索都市文明与自然森林之间转变”的实验场所。这个空间由自然洋行建筑事务所建立，这是一间信仰大自然重要意义的设计公司。其主管兼创始人，曾志伟，将建筑视为连接人类与自然的媒介。在这个项目中，他做到了不仅对周围环境因素施以利用，更为未来接手者保留必要的基本功能，这个设计正显示了事务所的本质：不只是单纯的建筑项目，更是对人与自然复杂关系的思想性探索。大多数他们所接手的项目都具有地理因素方面的挑战，例如，施工场所不是在小海岛上，就是在深山之中。但如其所言，他们设计的核心来自“土地力量”，所以团队轻而易举便克服了这些困难。最近我在台北的时候，受邀在原始感觉研究室停留一个下午。
Despite the address being listed as in Taipei’s Shilin District, an area most known for the raucous Shilin night market, siu siu is actually quite out of the way and well hidden. On the commute there, Taipei’s familiar cityscape and disarray of colors started to fade away until only trees and lush shades of green filled the view outside the car window. Cars and scooters began to appear less and less on the road. Google Maps indicated I had arrived as the driver turned off the main road and began to drive up a path adorned with Taiwanese Aboriginal totems. A short distance later, a formidable boulder forced the car to an abrupt stop – it appeared that the rest of the way can only be traveled by foot. I stepped out the car into the sticky humidity and began the walk; even though it wasn’t officially summer yet, the unrelenting Taipei heat was already in full effect. The sound of countless cicadas filled the hot air, only getting louder as I made my way up the mountain.
尽管工作室地址写的是，喧闹的士林夜市所在的台北士林区，事实上，少少却地处偏僻，隐匿于城市之中。在过去的路上，台北那熟悉的城市景观与纷乱色彩逐渐褪却，直至车窗外只剩树影摇曳，满目皆绿。路上的各种车辆也愈来越少。司机驶下主路后，正要开始攀上一条布满台湾原住民图腾的小径，这时，谷歌地图显示目的地已到达。车再往前行驶一小段距离后，迎面出现了一块惊天巨石——看来剩下的路程只能步行了。我下了车，开始徒步，车外尽是黏糊糊的湿气；尽管未至盛夏，台北的高温已火力全开。在流火的空气中，蟋蟀声此起彼伏不绝于耳，愈往山里去，这声音就愈发震耳。
Luckily, a sign that reads siu siu sitting at the base of a stone stairwell came into view not long later. As I made my way up the steps, the Lab of Primitive Senses began to come into view as well. It’s a large and impressive structure built with wood, iron, glass, and paint; but the most obvious and most prominent material is the black agricultural netting that wraps around the framework. Staying true to their core design concept, it’s actually quite difficult to ascertain whether you’re indoors or outdoors even after entering siu siu. The permeability of the netting allows natural light, mountain air, and the sounds of nature to pass through uninhibited. The most striking feature upon entering are the four large trees that twist and extend skywards through the black mesh. The caretaker for the day tells me, “The four trees already existed long before we came along – this is their home. When comparing the lifespan of these trees with own lifespan, it’s easy to see that we’re the guests.”
所幸，不出片刻，少少的标志就映入眼帘，赫然于一段石阶的底部。就这样沿着石阶一路向上，“原始感觉研究室”就渐渐浮现在视野内了。这是一个庞大的建筑物，由木头、钢铁、玻璃建成，刷有油漆，令人印象深刻；然而，最明显突出的材料还是包裹在框架外面的黑色农用网罩。他们实现了自己的核心设计理念，让人即使进入了少少，仍然很难确定自己究竟是置身于室内还是室外。网的镂空透气，让自然的光线、山中的空气以及大自然的声音得以畅通无阻地进入。一进来，最抓人眼球的是四棵大树，扭曲着穿透黑色网罩，向着天空生长。少少负责人之一告诉我，“四棵⼤树原本就存在于基地，那就是他们的家，并且相较于树的⽣命历程来看，我们才是过客。”
The interior is separated into four distinct areas: a main communal space and small kitchen; a second floor loft directly above the entrance; farther in is a secondary communal space surrounded by glass; and connected to that is a spacious patio. Originally, the team members found this space in the wilderness because many of them shared an interest in helping stray cats and wanted to construct a shelter for them. But after thoroughly researching the issue of stray animals, they discovered many problems that a design team wasn’t fit to handle. So instead, working with what they know, they created siu siu: a space that actually acts as a sociopolitical statement about how civilization and nature could harmoniously occupy the same space. “This became an opportunity to challenge people’s preconceived ideas. By experimenting with this Lab of Primitive of Senses project, we wanted to open up people’s minds. We want to show them that urban civilization could peacefully co-exist with nature and animals,” one of the caretakers commented. As if on cue, a dog casually wandered in, plopped down comfortably in the shaded confines, and began taking a nap.
内部分为四个区域：一个带有小厨房的主公共区域，一个于入口正上方的二楼阁楼，再往里走，是一个由玻璃环绕的次公共区域，与此相连的便是一个大露台。最初，团队中许多成员热心于帮助流浪猫，想为它们建一个收容所，于是便在荒野中找到了这个地方。但当他们详尽地研究了流浪动物的问题后，继而发现许多问题并非一个设计团队所能解决的。于是，他们还是回归自己的本行，建立了少少，作为一个关于文明与自然如何和谐共存的社会政治说明。 “所以我们也希望，透过一个有机会挑战既有观点的空间，像原始感觉研究室这样的实验计划，让大家打开另一种观点，城市文明和大自然/动物共存或许是可能的。”少少的一个看守人员说道。正在我四处探索的时候，一只小狗溜达进来，在一片背阴处舒服地坐下，开始打盹。
Even though Taipei is a city surrounded on all sides by mountains and seas, it’s far too easy to become overwhelmed by the frenetic energy of the city and take the great outdoors for granted. siu siu provides a great opportunity for city dwellers to get out of Taipei and enjoy all that nature has to offer. In the past, siu siu has been known to host diverse events like potpourri workshops, meditation retreats, art exhibitions, weddings, and even shamanic ceremonies. Unfortunately, the space isn’t open to the general public on most days; but to find out more about future events or to make reservations for an event rental, you can visit the siu siu Facebook page.
尽管台北四面山海环绕，也还是太容易便淹没在城市的狂热能量之中，将美妙的户外视作理所当然。少少提供了一个绝佳的机会，让人们远离城市的喧嚣，投身于大自然馈赠。过去，少少已经举办过像花草⼯作坊、冥想训练、艺术展览、结婚典礼，甚至萨满仪式这样的活动。这个地方平日多数时候并不对公众开放，但是你仍可通过少少的脸书主页关注接下来的活动，或者了解空间租借事宜。
Website: siusiu.tw
Facebook: ~/siusiucreate
Instagram: @siusiu.lab
Contributor & Photographer: David Yen
