Chang House

Tasting local refreshments in a classic Yilan residence

Hanson is the owner of Chang House. Wearing a warm smile and wooden clogs, he walks out to greet you, leading you along the slate pathway into the back yard. Pushing open the screen door, the wind and sunlight dance together as you see the unique desserts and traditional refreshments that Chang and the housekeepers have prepared for you. As they place the local flavors of Yilan upon the table, you admire the plate arrangement and local ingredients. Taste a bite of kumkuat, enjoying the sweet & sour flavor; salted plum cakes, a local delicacy, stuffed with dehydrated fruit, get sweeter the longer they are chewed; roasted wheat flour tea with a sprinkle of crispy bun cake combines the most classic traditional flavors; wash it all down with a cup of warm honey peach black tea to warm the stomach and the heart.

Designed by famous architect Huang Sheng-yuan, Chang House is the most representative residential building in Yilan. The height of the ground floor allows one to appreciate both the view of the fields and the painting- like mountain scenery. Slow down your pace and appreciate the rhythmic interaction between the courtyard and the surrounding natural environment. Even when sitting indoors under the midday sun, you can sense the movement of the wind. The sun floods indoors through large floor-to-ceiling windows, bright and warm. The cubic structure, the square-shaped courtyard, the single pink plumeria tree highlight the year-round beauty of Chang House.

A home accordant with nature and founded on people

Eight years in construction, Chang House is founded upon people, accordant with nature, and fused with the local culture. “Looking down at the design of our house from above, you can see the square-within-a-square shape (回) of the Chinese character for return. It is built upon the concept of home, which is precisely what I wanted.” In order to implement this ideal, Hanson waited eight years for the design and construction to be completed. He used patience and trust to exchange for what he loved most.

Moving alone from Yilan to Taipei, Hanson got a job as a hairdresser after graduating from high school in order to help ease his family’s economic pressure. Along the way, he met the most important person in his life - Sister Lan. After saving a bit of money, they decided to move together to Yilan and build a home they could call their own. Even though an accident quietly took Sister Lan from this world, her warm spirit had already had a profound influence on Chang House. Hanson says that the property upon which Chang House is built was bought by Sister Lan, so no matter what, he must continue her dream of making her dreamland a reality.

The greatest luxury is in fact very simple

Chang House’s five suites have all been named after the rooms formerly inhabited by members of Hanson’s family: the Master Bedroom, the Mother Room, the Eldest Daughter Room, the Little Daughter Room, and the Guest Room. All rooms are simple and elegant, while retaining a cozy warmth. Hanson lived with his family in this home for ten years before deciding to share it with the outside world, allowing even more people to stay in a local Yilan residence. His hope was that travelers could also share in their experience of life in this special living room and in this courtyard.

In the morning, you enjoy a delicious Chinese-style home cooked meal made entirely of seasonal vegetables and fruit grown in their own garden. Afterwards, you lie in the spacious front yard enjoying the aroma of the rice paddies. In the afternoon, you curl up in a corner of the courtyard with a book. The evening is the most important time of day at Chang House - you climb to the rooftop from where you can enjoy the expansive natural scenery. This is the most magical moment of all, when the golden sun setting beneath orange clouds creates a splendid play of light and shadow across the open fields. It has been said that human beings require sunlight, air, water, and trees. After coming to Chang House, you realize that all you need to do is open your eyes and relax your mind, and all at once, all of these wonderful elements are yours!