“Like dappled sunlight filtering through the trees, ‘Alpinus’ is the only stone that could seamlessly extend such lush surrounding greenery into the interior. Likewise, only a space of this caliber possesses the breath and freedom to showcase the grand presence of Alpinus, alongside the profound depth of its geological history.”
— Tanya Wang, Lead Designer
Yuan-Gallery Design
What kind of spatial aesthetics does an interior designer with a background in physics pursue? Beyond raw beauty, Tanya Wang’s design represents a living dialogue between scientific rigor and the art of daily existence. 《沐浴在光中》 marks her debut work incorporating marble. Through her distinct design vocabulary, the vivid emerald tones of “Alpinus” resonate harmoniously with the expansive mountain vistas, seamlessly blurring the boundary between natural materials and the landscape outside.
Tanya Wang’s path to interior design began with a pivotal realization on the eve of her university graduation. Her fascination with astrophysics took root in the Earth Science Club at Taipei First Girls' High School, leading her to major in Physics at National Taiwan University (NTU). She initially envisioned expanding her horizons in astronomy and geology, but everything paused during her senior year. Exceptionally precocious, she recognized her own limitations among the elite minds of Taiwan’s premier institution. Facing the fork between graduate studies and entering the workforce, she foresaw a potential mid-life crisis: committing entirely to academic research would demand unwavering devotion to scientific observations—a trajectory directly at odds with her deeply family-oriented nature.
Rooted in Architecture, Evolving through Space
After a full year of reflection, Tanya Wang chose an unconventional path of self-directed study. “Architecture was my passion from childhood; our home was always filled with architects.” Unlike other children, her mother’s drafting board served as her toy. These familiar elements were like childhood companions—guiding her on a long journey that ultimately led back to her enduring love for architecture. From auditing classes at Huafan University’s Department of Architecture to attending lectures by master architects, her thirst for knowledge was unquenchable. Her father, the esteemed architect Wang Zhen-Hua, served as both her parent and professional mentor, guiding her through structural logic, materials, construction techniques, and interior design. For nearly eight years, she fully immersed herself in deep study, founding Yuan-Gallery Design in 2003 along the way.
“Physics trains a holistic system of logical thinking. It constantly questions fundamental principles, derives laws through acute observation, synthesizes underlying causes from those laws, and relentlessly verifies them. The backbone supporting all of this is the scientific spirit.” These insights have permeated Yuan-Gallery Design, infusing Tanya Wang’s creations with an invisible clarity that feels effortlessly serene. Reflecting on her approach, she shares: “I prioritize structure, material traits, and the rational coherence of logic and construction—pushing techniques to their absolute logical limits. These are all gifts from my background in physics. Even if I could restart my life, I would still choose to study physics before transitioning into design.”
Much of this precision stems from her father’s influence. Wang Zhen-Hua was not only an architect, but also an educator who championed active practice. “My father knew I had a strong-willed nature. Through his own life, he taught me: Ignore what people say; what truly matters is what you do.” True mastery and spirit emerge only through practice. Tanya Wang vividly recalls repairing a water faucet in first grade. “The tap is broken!” she announced. Hearing this, her father handed her a spare faucet and said, “Go fix it.” After getting soaked from forgetting to turn off the main valve, she figured out how to use plumbers’ tape and ultimately succeeded. “My mother praised me warmly, but my father remained quietly reserved. It was then I realized that solving a problem with my own hands yields the greatest sense of fulfillment.” Through his living example, her father taught her that design is never mere theory on paper, and even mistakes offer valuable lessons—wisdom woven directly into the fabric of daily life.
“Deeply in love with geology since high school, I have long been fascinated by the rich textures formed over tens of thousands of years under immense geological pressure. Natural stone shares a profound trait with astronomy—the beauty we admire exists on a vast, cosmic timescale. That is precisely why I refrained from using marble for over two decades. It wasn’t until 《沐浴在光中》 took shape that ‘Alpinus’ from CHENHOW MARBLE flashed into my mind; it became the very first marble I ever wished to bring into a space.”
— Tanya Wang
Speaking of embracing new possibilities, 《沐浴在光中》 represents a bold departure in spatial layout and material selection, made possible by the client's complete trust and unconditional support. Overlooking a majestic mountain landscape and lush greenery, this residence serves as a multi-functional family retreat—harmoniously accommodating entertaining, remote work, and storage needs. Tanya Wang opened up the previously compartmentalized floor plan, inviting natural ventilation and sunlight so that every vantage point offers an uninterrupted connection to the outdoor views. Furthermore, the diagonal placement of the sofa pairs gracefully with a curved stone feature wall, seamlessly guiding the eye while neutralizing the visual heaviness of the structural beam overhead.
Remarkably, this project marks the very first time in Tanya Wang’s two-decade design career that marble takes center stage—and indeed, her first time incorporating marble into a space altogether.
The centerpiece is a sweeping curved wall crafted from "Alpinus." Regarding natural stone, Wang believes that unless a space possesses the scale and setting to honor its historical depth and grand presence, one should not squander such a gift of nature. Yet, when she recalled encountering this translucent, green-veined, and exquisitely textured stone at an art fair, she knew it possessed the energy to resonate with the home’s panoramic surroundings. “It felt like walking among the trees and catching a glimpse of sky filtering through,” she notes, describing how it serves as a focal stroke that seamlessly draws the outdoors in. She observes that at night, when lights are dimmed and soft illumination grazes the wall, the stone seems to steal the silhouette of trees from outside. “Seeing night photos of this work, some people genuinely believed I had hidden a real tree behind the wall!”
Achieving this breakthrough was no easy feat. To complete the curved marble wall, Tanya Wang set aside her initial painted-wall alternative, choosing instead to tackle the challenge of seamlessly joining thick stone slabs into a gentle curve. To bring her vision to life, she remains deeply grateful for the execution team’s dedication—from precision-cutting six marble slabs and hand-finishing each piece, to tapering the edges, aligning veins seamlessly, and calibrating the lighting scheme. Every step demanded meticulous precision. Throughout this process, the wholehearted commitment of CHENHOW MARBLE's execution team proved to be a groundbreaking experience for her. Departing from the conservatism typical of traditional industries, they embraced innovation with an enthusiastic attitude—ranging from technical consultations and multiple on-site verifications to precise color-temperature calibration. To ensure the stone wall exuded the most inviting glow under evening light, the CHENHOW MARBLE team personally visited the factory with a colorimeter, testing color temperatures from 3000K to 5700K to determine the ideal ambiance. For Wang, such professional refinement serves as a precious force pushing traditional craftsmanship forward.
Yet, design is not the entirety of life. Left solely to her natural inclinations, Wang might spend all her time immersed in design and handcrafts—from wood carving and seal engraving to paper sculpting, where crafting with blades easily makes her lose all track of time. However, much like during her university years, she realized early on that sharing life with her family is her ultimate devotion. Stepping away from her blueprints, she watches anime with her family, joins her daughter in following YouTubers, or builds Lego sets—transforming companionship into an act of love. Returning to her work, she willingly invests months alongside clients to co-create the blueprint of an ideal home, allowing time to mature the vision as she designs with logic and writes the story of a home with heart.
Epilogue
Editor’s Note: I once helped edit a monograph on the legendary architect Wang Da-Hong, to which Tanya Wang’s father, Professor Wang Zhen-Hua, was one of the contributing scholars. “To review that draft, Professor Wang came to the publishing house in person, going over and pondering every single word without skipping a character,” Tanya recalled during our interview, her eyes welling with tears. “That was so typical of my father.” On her official journal, she writes of conversing with her father in her heart. And through the signature details she leaves in every home—be it a subtle bas-relief of Mount Dabajian or custom solid-wood furniture crafted through endless searching—though the philosopher has departed, Yuan-Gallery Design honors this family legacy, living out that profound spirit with heart and practice.
