House Of Music / XRANGE Architects

Architects: XRANGE Architects
Area: 250 m²
Year: 2011
Photography: Kuo-Min Lee
Structural Engineers: Neutral Engineering Consultants
Construction: Fuguach Architecture, Kuoyoa Construction Company
Electrical and Plumbing Engineering: Wantai Industrial Technician Office
Location: Shilin District, Taipei City
Country: Taiwan

House of Music residential building designed by XRANGE Architects in Taipei’s Shilin District redefines how sound interacts with domestic space through a six-story layout centered around a purpose-built acoustic chamber. Completed in 2011, the project integrates a mid-level Music Box composed of 400 walnut panels, enabling variable acoustic conditions across the home. The structure functions as an inhabitable instrument, eliminating isolated soundproofing in favor of spatial reverberation. The concrete facade references musical notation, with window placements arranged rhythmically rather than functionally. Interior materials like brass and cork, along with sculptural elements such as a custom wine cellar, extend the architectural expression of music throughout the house.

House of Music is a six-story residence located in the Shilin District of Taipei, designed by XRANGE Architects for a couple composed of a symphony conductor and an oboist. The project is centered on a performance space called the Music Box, which serves as the spatial and acoustic core of the house. Rather than isolating music behind soundproof walls, the design allows it to permeate throughout the building. The concrete structure acts as a reverberation chamber that supports the clients’ belief that music should remain part of everyday domestic life.

The house thus becomes a spatial musical instrument, where one can appreciate music in any corner of the house, whether cooking, eating, sitting or sleeping.
Interview with Grace Cheung of XRANGE Architects

The Music Box is positioned on the third floor, occupying the center of the building’s vertical layout. It connects the social spaces on the lower levels with the private rooms above. The space features stepped seating to accommodate formal recitals and informal performances. It is wrapped in 400 angled walnut panels, 150 of which are operable. These panels form a porous acoustic screen that connects to adjacent rooms, allowing the flow of sound to be adjusted depending on use. This tunable system enables the occupants to control the auditory presence of music in various parts of the home.

The exterior design draws from musical notation. Horizontal lines are cast into the concrete facade, while window openings are arranged like notes across a score. These windows do not reflect the hierarchy or size of the rooms behind them but are instead placed to convey rhythm and visual continuity. This design strategy reinforces the idea of the building as an expressive musical object.

Interior finishes further extend this concept. Materials such as cork and brass, commonly found in instruments, contribute to the sensory and symbolic continuity of the design. In the basement, a wine cellar with a 1,500-bottle capacity reflects the client’s interests. Its sculpted organic form and rich purple color evoke the swirling motion of red wine, combining spatial narrative with individual taste.

House of Music communicates the personal and professional identity of its residents by embedding performance into the fabric of daily life. As XRANGE Architects explains, the house “tells a story that connects their past, work, hobbies, family, and future.”