Designed by Studio Liaigre, this graceful apartment in Taipei perfectly showcases Yageo Group president Pierre Chen’s remarkable art collection within a poetic space that offers a nod to cloistered courtyards in Europe
Having crafted and furnished the interiors of an impressive array of beautiful abodes and yachts around the world, the French design maestro Christian Liaigre had long been a sought-after name by celebrity clients and the jet-set. Founded in 1985, the namesake brand Liaigre continues to be a leading name in the design realm, coveted by tastemakers around the world. The late designer, who passed away in 2020, handed the creative reins of the company to his trusted colleague and collaborator Frauke Meyer in 2016; Meyer now leads the design team as the brand’s creative director, while her colleague Guillaume Rolland heads the yacht design division at the company.
Pierre Chen, the billionaire homeowner of this Taipei apartment and president of electronics giant Yageo Group, was already well-acquainted with Liaigre prior to the renovation of his home. The notable Taiwanese entrepreneur and prominent art collector is both a long-time client and close friend of the late French designer. Over the years, Chen has been appointing Studio Liaigre—the interior design arm of the French firm—to design the interiors of several projects. Naturally, the brand was the first name to come to mind for his latest renovation.
Chen recently decided to combine two adjacent units to form this spacious 12,116 sq ft property, which looks out to magnificent views of the Yangmingshan mountain range beyond. He then tasked Studio Liaigre to turn it into a personalised sanctuary as well as a space that would beautifully showcase his extensive art collection.
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Art certainly is the key driver for the considered design of this abode, especially for the owner and mega collector, who counts pieces by blue-chip names the likes of Francis Bacon, Mark Rothko, Pablo Picasso, and Salvador Dali, among the highlights of his treasured assemblage. Chen was thus heavily involved in the curation and placement of art throughout his home, selected from his extensive collection with care and purpose for each area of the apartment.
“The overall idea for this place is to live with art,” shares Meyer, commenting on the brief given by the owner. “It is an apartment meant to host, both formal parties and friendly ones. It is also a place of exhibition for a part of the owner’s art collection. We had to find a way to make the apartment interesting, within the constraints of [the location of] its main staircase and lift which stands in the centre of the level.”
The simple material and colour scheme selected for the abode is deliberately understated to keep the focus on these prized paintings and photographs. “The colour scheme is natural, with a lot of white. We had to ensure that materials and colours would not take [away the attention from] the art pieces,” adds Meyer.
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