The Wandering Walls / XRANGE Architects

Architects: XRANGE Architects
Area: Site Area: 2,880 m² / Building Area: 490 m²
Year: 2020
Photography: Kuo-Min Lee, Lorenzo Pierucci, Studio Millspace
Architectural, Interior & Landscape Design: XRANGE Architects
Lead Architect: Grace Cheung
Structural Engineers: Top Technic Engineering Consultants Co., Ltd.
Lighting Design: Unolai Lighting Design & Associates
Location: Hengchun Township, Pingtung County
Country: Taiwan

The Wandering Walls retreat designed by XRANGE Architects in Hengchun Township, Pingtung County redefines architectural enclosure through a series of cast-in-place concrete walls that merge with the surrounding landscape and shape the spatial, structural, and environmental identity of an eight-room coastal residence. Completed in 2020, the project was developed in response to the site’s remote location, intense seasonal winds, salt exposure, and absence of construction infrastructure. The design relies on curved walls as the sole architectural element, eliminating traditional separations between interior and exterior. These forms negotiate views, programs, and environmental protection across three levels. Locally produced timber formwork was used to accommodate irregularities in execution, resulting in distinctively textured surfaces. An ecological water system sustains a chlorine-free rooftop infinity pool, while native acacia trees and grasses are preserved throughout the site, anchoring the architecture in its immediate topography.

The Wandering Walls’s stair concrete block detail railing really represented the unpredictability on site and our adapting to it on the fly.
Interview with Grace Cheung of XRANGE Architects

The Wandering Walls retreat by XRANGE Architects is situated on a remote coastal ridge in Hengchun Township, Pingtung County, where acacia forests and grassland meet the ocean. The project organizes its eight guest rooms and shared spaces using curving concrete walls that define all architectural, spatial, and environmental relationships across the site.

The building responds to extreme coastal conditions, including persistent winter winds and airborne sea salt. Before construction, the site lacked road access, and local labor was limited in both experience and number. These constraints informed the early decision to use cast-in-place concrete for its resilience, adaptability, and reduced logistical demands. Concrete served as both the structure and finish, supporting the project’s conceptual and practical goals.

According to the architects, the design was envisioned to create “a sense of quietude and permanence” through a minimal material palette and a single expressive element. Curved walls perform all spatial and structural roles, blurring distinctions between inside and outside. Each wall operates as a boundary, shelter, frame, and surface in one continuous movement.

The retreat traces the perimeter of an existing acacia grove and curves gently outward toward the ocean. This positioning allows the trees to act as a natural wind barrier and shapes the experience of arrival. The windward side remains enclosed for protection, while the ocean-facing elevation opens through full-height glazing to frame expansive views of grasslands and sea.

A flat slab with bearing wall construction allows each curved wall to shift in plan independently across the three floors. These adjustments are guided by interior layouts, sightlines, and the need to buffer wind. At the stairwells, vertically staggered curves create framed views where forest, sky, and ocean align. On the second and third levels, the walls lift to 4.5 meters from the slabs to form suspended enclosures that respond acoustically to the rustling of acacia leaves. On the ground floor, walls cantilever outward to generate courtyards that provide privacy and environmental buffering.

To accommodate the lack of skilled labor, the construction process relied on highly tolerant formwork made from recycled or low-grade timber. Three board widths were used: 30 centimeters for broad curves, 20 centimeters for tighter arcs, and 4 centimeters for sharp bends. This method accepted minor misalignments and surface irregularities, which contributed to the retreat’s distinctive low-resolution texture.

Throughout the building, material transitions occur along the curved walls. Surfaces shift from rough concrete to wood, metal, and tile, often integrating local red earth where walls hover above the landscape. On the windward side, years of wind exposure have gradually smoothed the once-rough concrete surfaces, marking the passage of time in material form.

The rooftop features a 360-degree infinity pool with unobstructed views of the surrounding ocean and mountain range. The pool is filled with freshwater filtered from an on-site ecological pond and operates without chlorine or harsh chemicals. This system supports local wildlife, including birds that frequently gather at the water’s edge.

Preservation of the native landscape was central to the project’s environmental strategy. Existing acacia trees and grassland were retained to define the site’s ecological character and enhance the building’s integration with its environment. The result is a retreat where spatial clarity, construction pragmatism, and contextual sensitivity converge in a singular architectural expression.