相信許多認識我的人都知道，我一直認為文化創意產業的真正基礎是建立在有文化創意消費者身上。只要有機會，我都鼓勵年輕人只要找到工作，有固定收入，就應該從家中搬出來住。學習如何獨立生活，更重要的是開始佈置一個屬於自己的小家，將創意美感在生活中實踐出來。留在家裡就要尊重父母的審美觀消費觀，雖然省了房租但失去建立自己生活美感的機會。想從事創意文化產業的年輕人，就從你對居住環境的敏感度及美感開始。更直接地說，一個社會能否進入創業文化的經濟發展，不是看有錢人如何居住，而是看一般文化創意人如何居住。
只要打開報紙就可看到有關豪宅的大幅廣告。我有時懷疑，台灣真的有這麼多有錢人嗎？一個城市，如果都是豪宅，它的生命力及創造力在哪裡？從許多的資訊中我們已經知道一個城市的競爭力，在於文化創意階級 (cultural creative class) 的臨界量 (critical mass) 有多少。Richard Florida 早已提出城市必須要先能吸引創意階級，才能發展以創意文化為競爭力的經濟。
我所認識的許多朋友，都在找有屋頂陽台的房子，但在都會區非常難找，即使找到也負擔不起。絕大多數的人都是將原來的小陽台，往客廳內擴大，即使因為縮小了客廳的空間，但因為陽台的擴大而感覺到客廳跟戶外有延伸，並沒有感覺到客廳變小。即使有客人來，只要把陽台的伸縮門拉到一旁，馬上有戶內直通戶外的感覺。許多人找老公寓做這種改變，但一定要注意到防水的問題。因為樓下客廳的一部分變成你陽台的一部分。
我們看到有越來越多的人願意取捨犧牲室內空間，換取較大而且可用的陽台空間。為甚麼不在一開始就設計一個足夠大的露台，至少 10 x 28 尺 可以放一個六人坐的長桌，一個daybed，一兩盆大樹，盡量將空間留給人而不是給花園。（我一直不喜歡空中花園，小山小橋小草坪。我情願留一個大的空間留給人。一兩棵大樹，綠化遮陽，帶點慵懶度假氣氛。）
四年前一個好友在香港置產，因為沒有錢，只能夠從老舊公寓中看到別人看不到的可能。終於找到一個小公寓，但他做了一個重要選擇，放棄 三分之一的室內空間，將原本為露台的空間還原，一時整個房子的空間亮了起來，戶外生活變成可能。只要允許，都在戶外吃飯宴客閱讀寫作。我笑著跟他說：你擁有香港的一片天空，比任何大豪宅都富有。
露台生活是一種選擇，但也是一種可以學習，開發的生活方式。我們可以看到在國外坐在露天喝咖啡的人絕對比坐在室內的人多。相信在未來絕對會有更多的年輕人不怕曬黑，不以美白為唯一的審美標準，愛上戶外生活，清風徐來，萬里晴空的感覺。
記得數年前，有一次被邀請參加一個豪宅建案所推出的“美感生活座談會”。座談會開始前接待的人特別帶我參觀豪宅的樣品屋。經過他的熱心親切專業的介紹後，我很禮貌的跟他說：很抱歉，我不是你們推動豪宅的客戶群。我不但負擔不起，更不習慣每天生活在五星級飯店的環境中。我要的是一個有獨特風格(character) , 有個性(personality) 及一定要有大露台的居住空間。 當下，我就決定應該推動一個提倡有大露台小室內空間的new lifestyle。
“朱先生，你真是在做夢。在台灣是很難找到建商會重視做這個project的背後意義及無形的價值。建商所看到的是成本有多少，利潤有多少。消費者所看到的是一坪多少錢，增值潛力有多少。你不是太天真就是傻瓜。”我知道其他不可能的因素也有很多：台北空氣污染，灰塵多，噪音大，蚊蟲，颱風大雨，鄰居在陽台宴客擾人，怕熱怕太陽怕曬黑，容易遭小偷，會有鳥糞等等。
在我們的生活文化中，很難產生原創性或突破性的產品，就是因為我們太實際，而且甚麼都要，因此讓我們成為限制性思考,不可能心態的奴隸。
• 建商為甚麼不思考，我有責任讓台灣人居住品質越來越好。我可以創造完全創新以new lifestyle為主的產品 – 大陽台的生活。如此可以創造新的購屋群，雖然可能不會賺到很多錢，但我的商譽及我的經驗讓我在未來會有更多的機會，爭取到更大更獨特的建案。更重要的是，你留給後代的不是銀行有多少錢，而是你為社會，為人民的居住品質做了甚麼。
• 消費者為甚麼不思考，當你決定要擁有一個大陽台的戶外生活方式時，所產生的困難都僅是挑戰而已：每天可用水清洗保持陽台清潔，用蚊香驅蚊，裝風扇，在家不放貴重金錢首飾，裝設電眼保全。。。。
我們的快樂不是來自知道要的是甚麼，而是來自知道為了得到所要的，而能很平和的接受所要放棄的東西。當我們甚麼都要的時候，我們就很難快樂。當我身為一個消費者，我要的如果是“大陽台生活”，其他的任何問題都是我可以接受的。
在這裡我要很簡單的分享“大陽台生活”在設計上的幾個原則：
1. 大陽台的重要性是寬度，不是長度。有了寬度，才能放daybed及六人的桌椅。（大陽台就是你的戶外客廳，餐廳，辦公室。）因此最理想的大小是10 x 28英尺（8坪）或者是 8 x 20 英尺（4.5坪）。
2. 因為減碳節能是我們未來生活的一部分，因此在設計大陽台時應有曬掛衣物的設計。我曾看到有人按照衣物的顏色大小排列曬掛，因此曬掛衣物也可以變成裝置藝術的。
3. 減少公用設施坪數，增加自用坪數，因此不需太大的lobby。
4. 為了降低建造成本，全部使用國產建材，基本上沒有隔間，要讓消費者自己決定要用甚麼廚房浴室設備。最大的原則是提供最低總價的設計。
5. 我個人是喜歡平台式的大陽台，如此沒有屋頂，可以擁有一片天空，但在設計上會有挑戰。因此有屋頂的大陽台是唯一的選擇。
6. 大陽台8平，客廳/餐廳4.2坪，廚房2.8坪，主臥室4.2坪，客臥室 3.5坪，書房/辦公室3.5坪，浴室/廁所 2.5坪，客廁所1.6坪，儲藏室1.5坪，合計31.8坪。我知道以目前台北市的房地產價格，這個實用31.8坪的“大陽台生活”的lifestyle新產品至少要新台幣一千五百萬到兩千萬，但比起目前動輒 上億的豪宅來講卻是一個突破性的新產品。
我將讓地產開發商，建築設計師去思考如何將這個“大陽台生活”變成可行的事實。讓我們的居住環境多一個選擇。相信一百年後的今天，我們會有更多的人瞭解住在一個密不通風的像五星級飯店的豪宅是多麼的缺乏想象及無聊。
我知道要在台北大都會區實現這個以lifestyle 為主的“大陽台生活”住宅非常困難，但至少我們已開始這個討論，能?發ICB讀者對lifestyle居住有新的思考。如果有足夠多的人要求這種改變，有一天就會出現新生代的建商，願意開發 “大陽台生活”的住宅產品。
正如同我的一位好友告訴我：朱平，你需要的是 一個不是做建築開發的人來完成這夢想，因為目前成功的建商，拿起計算機一算，就會說：謝謝，很棒的想法， 但不可能賺錢。
我仍然不放棄，因為我相信當市場有此需求時，真正成功的建商會想出方法滿足市場的需求。我也絕對會盡我之力，讓此計劃成功。雖不會賺到大錢，但也不會賠大錢。
非理性的建築開發商，你在哪裡？
家庭作業： 請來信告知你在未來願意購買一個室內空間23.8坪但大陽台空間有8坪的31.8坪房子嗎？
（轉載自朱先生在International Creative Business (ICB) 雜誌每月專欄）
Update 2008.10.15
我最近在柏林看到一棟有大陽台的公寓，好羡慕！
事實上.在高雄有些建商會接受這樣的看法.在左營區就有這樣的大樓.雖然不到8坪大小的陽台.但是270度角圓弧看山又看海ㄉ陽台.超美ㄉ.很快.新一代的觀念會蔓延.
Dear JY:
I think everyone would love to have a big terrace outdoor living space. The challenge is to set the priority. My writing is to remind people to chase their dream and accept the necessay trade off. Again, the biggest challenge is that we don’t have any options available for us to make this trade off in Taipei. My goal is to inspire future builders to provide this ” product ” for us. Let’s make some noice so these builders will know that there is a big demand for this kind of outdoor living space.
Ping
Dear Dean:
It is my honor to have the chance to get to know you and your group. Anyway, I am glad that I touch a few souls. 🙂 Yes, please become a regular here to share your thoughts with our friends here.
朱先生您好:
jy也喜歡大陽台,jy的姨丈是位懂得生活的好人,也提倡大陽台的看法,跟朱先生的文章有共鳴
人們常常想為自己創造擁有但同時也失去共有的快樂,
大陽台的生活好
它不只拉近人與大自然的距離更傭有人與人的共有分享
謝謝您分享的文章
http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/hair0419/
這是jy的部落格期待您指教
朱先生很高興能在周四的夜晚在世貿聯誼社聽了您ㄧ場對我來說非常振憾的分享,我很榮幸擔任當晚主持人,你對生活態度的追求與堅持也是我一直在效法與跟隨的,
很高興在當晚能跟您有很好的互動;anyway我也要開始來佈置我的大洋台了
有機會ㄧ定跟您分享
good site czupij
Dear Ru-Ling:
You will be a invaluable addition to this blog by sharing your brilliant mind and unique life experience with us here in Taiwan.
Life is not a destination , but a journey. We welcome distraction and excursion. This is why we need bewilderment than cleverness.
http://tw.fashion.yahoo.com/blog/spY4gGBJcv_UBvCMHE6mgQ–/archive/
Please visit the above website. It is my other blog that my team has set up for my writings. I love the comments made by my friends.
Oops!
Two mistakes on my part:
1. I was thinking narrowly of the broader consumers.
2. I was trying to convey my preference of a balcony with one
and only one function of “relaxation,” as opposed to the
outdoor-living space embraced by you, which for me denotes a
multi-function purpose.
Apparently, I failed in that I didn’t clarify my thoughts well enough and added too many descriptive words, like beautiful or green, so as to cause some misunderstanding about my intention.
Regardless, the only thing I actually disagree with you is that I, for one, see greens in the balcony as a soothing agent, not a vanity garden. And, that certainly means I put myself, instead of the garden, first.
Hey, you don’t mind an occasional well-meaning distractor like me to join this interesting and enlightening forum, do you?
Ru-Ling
Dear Emily:
Thank you for dropping by.
Ping
Dear Ru-Ling:
Thank you for your input.
You are right on that we can always improve the existing old flat to have a better livig space. However, the idea for my writing is to encourage the builder to create a new housing product that caters to the cultural creative people who are single or couple with no kids.
I am not advocating a garden like balcony living either. I am proposing an out door living space, not a green space. I want to put people first, not the plant/flower first in our outdoor space design.
There are great outdoor furniture that you can use to accentuate the outdoor living experience.
One more thing, Taipei’s air is not that bad in the morning and evening time. Life is always a trade off. We need to know what we really want first. If outdoor living is what you want, the daily cleaning is the price to pay for your lifestyle.
Let’s hope that one day, people in Taiwan will learn to live a life of their choice.
Ping
感謝老師的贈言,針對terrace living的一些想法寫在我的blog~書也寄出,請老師多多指教~
Here’s what I thought from afar on the other side of The Pacific:
The polluted air and capricious weather pattern in Taipei could be a hindrance to your advocacy of a terrace-living lifestyle. Being a homemaker for the past three decades, I can assure you it’s no small job to wash clean the 8 pings of the space that is exposed to the dirty air everyday. If left uncleaned for a long while, the formed cake of dust would be punishingly difficult to clean.
Nonetheless, I am excited to see you embrace this lifestyle. A beautiful balcony is so enticing that an enthusiastic following is rightfully anticipated. I, for one, see it as an uplifted yard where people can smell a little bit of green and touch a little bit of nature. Hopefully, by stepping into this small carved-out space, feeling relaxed and refreshed afterward, we can regain our stamina after a day’s hard work and start anew mentally or physically for a brand new day.
Along this line of thinking, may I suggest to first focus on modifying the existing flats in Taipei? Why not start from there and conveniently make it a small soothing space first? By good design or re-arrangement, it is feasible. We may just put a shade umbrella and two chairs; a pot of green here; and a pot of color there. Elegance doesn’t have to come with a big room. Better yet, why not espousing flower-planting on the balcony first? Can’t wait too see the flower-blossoming “balcony-scape” of Taipei.
Summarily, I am all for the idea of a well-utilized balcony space. However, we could start small by improving the underutilized ones in the existing flats. After people see and inspired by the beauty of it then maybe the whole idea of a much larger balcony can be realized, sooner and lasting longer.
How I can’t wait to see a sophisticated Taipei, drowned in a sea of fresh natural colors on the ground and in the air. That’s so green!
Dear Emily:
Congratulation for your first book. Now, you are an author.
Yes, I remember you and I have just visited your blog again. I am proud of your determination to find your own medium to share your life with broader audience.
My life for boutique hotel hunting was over long time ago. I still remember the first time I visited NYC and was mesmerized by Andree Putman’s Morgan and Phillippe Starck’s Roylton. It was almost 20 years ago. I have stopped being Aman junkie ten years ago. I am more interested in the different kind of travel that is on pilgrimage with primitive experience. I am sure that you will also outgrow the obsession of the hippest hotel when you are older. 🙂
The real luxury in travel is the privacy and the chance encounter with interesting people.
Thank you for supporting the new outdoor lifestyle living. Hopefully, one day, we will have an unreasonable real estate developer who will create this kind of living space for us.
Please say no to no.
Ping
Yes, you can send your book to Canmeng office.
DEAR朱老師~
我當然願意，我夢想中的房子就是溫馨的公寓式格局，一定要有採光良好的陽台，成為與親友分享親密時刻的休憩空間，我從來就不愛那些每個月要繳上好幾千塊管理費的大樓，尤其許多建商文案只用華麗的文字堆砌，用一些設計大師、建築大師、精品旅館來包裝建案，但最糟的是，我還看過建商文案還將國際級設計師的英文名字拼錯!這真是很嚴重的失誤跟欺騙啊!我認為美好的生活型態及空間是要靠主人自己去經營，絕不是相信名牌或被商業廣告所蠱惑…
p.s 朱老師，之前曾在您sex and the city 一文留言，承蒙您熱情的回應，近日我出版了拙作{一夜叛逃:我在時尚旅館}(由大塊文化出版)，想與老師一同分享，直接寄至[肯夢]您就會收到嗎?
Dear Tai:
Thanks for dropping by. Please join the conversation. Now, we know we will never be alone. 🙂
I am still experimenting this medium. Please join me to find a more sustainable way to make a difference by our baby steps.
1% is the message of my life.
Ping
Hi just drop by to say hi.
really good comment on balcony life style.
thanks
Tai
Dear Esther:
You are right on. We just want to make our voice heard and create a demand for this kind of lifestyle based living space.
I think it is our fault that we put too much emphasis on the valuation of the property based on Price per Ping. We don’t count the design and the lifestyle living into the total valuation.
Only through the re-education of our younger generation can we stop this conventional wisdom.
This is the reason that I started this blog and wrote monthly column for International Creative Business magazine.
Thank you for contributing in this dialogue.
Ping
我想所謂的居住空間 指的是讓自已舒服的空間
而非實質有屋簷的空間
朱先生用這專題討論
希望能讓更多建商了解到 人對free space的需要
台灣人口不多
未來應該不需要再依建商的需求 建立更大的鳥籠
希望未來在台灣有更多的建築師能體認這一點以提昇台灣居住品質
Dear Deja:
Again, we want to make sure that real estate developer can still make money. Therefore, we need to find a most economic way to create this property.
I have so many young people, especially in the creative business, who wrote to me and raise their both hands to support this kind of lifestyle property.
Sometime, I think the only way to make it a reality is to go out to raise money or beg super rich real estate tycoon on my own to build a property like this. 🙂
Thanks for your support.
Ping
Dear Erick:
Please keep searching and spreading the message. If we can create the demand. One day, we will see real estate developer start ingto build big balcony property.
It may require a generation to see this happen. I know my mother generation will think this is crazy to trade off every day used interior space for occasionaly used exterior space.
This is a lifestyle choice, not so much a money issue.
Thank you for your posting.
Ping
Dear Freda:
You are so right.
I still have a few secret gardens in Taipei so I can enjoy the great outdoor space within 30 minutes of taxi ride. I usually block my time duing the week day and spend the entire afternoon to write and to contemplate at these great outdoor space.
Taipei is the most under-rated city in the world. You can go to the national park, hot spring, ocean, hiking trails, waterfall, mountain get away within one hour drive.
I love Taipei.
Ping
Dear Suman:
Yes, you are not alone. I just want to use my influence ( if I have any ) to tell Taiwan’s real estate developer to look into this new lifestyle product.
Please note that the total size of the usable space is still only 31.5 Ping. Hopefully, this small size can reduce the price and make it affordable for most middle class who are either sigle or make a conscious decision to stay single or not raising a family.
Thank you for taking time to let me know you support this project.
Ping
Dear Kathy:
I am so happy for you. You have the courage to resist the conventional wisdom.
I will recommend you to invest in a really good outdoor daybed or furniture.
http://www.dedon.de/main.php?myLan=en&directJump=
Now, the ourdoor furniture is so well designed that is better than the indoor furniture sometime. It would be a very worthwhile investment. ( If you spread the investment over ten years, you will see that it is not so expensive after all. )
Thank you, Kathy, for leaving me such a happy note.
Ping
Dear Tsung Chuan:
Yes, I also received many emails that overwhelmingly agree to choose a bigger outdoor space at the expense of the smaller indoor space. It is a major shift in putting the lifestyle ahead of the practical usage.
You are very insightful on my hidden agenda in this article:
1. Moving out of your parent’s house as soon as you can so you can live a life you choose to.
2. Lifestyle vs. utilitarian life
3. Ultimate goal vs. noise ( all reasons that you cannot have bigger balcony ..)
4. Creating demand
5. Finding that unreasonable real estate developer
Let’s keep pushing…
Ping
願意
但我希望這8坪的空間是放在整個格局的中間
因此當環繞行於房間時
可以隨時欣賞到光與影+樹與花的美好
朱老師
如果有一個雨天可以出現 晴天可以隱形的透明大遮雨板
這個計畫會讓每個人都欣喜若狂
因為話說回來
大抵是因為這種地小人稠加上海島型氣候
導致這種這麼美的作法被現實消滅
哇 朱平
大陽台的生活是美
卻是台北居大不易
或許先在我們心靈上給自己留一塊大陽台
時不時到那裡去安靜一下
晒晒太陽
也是另類的美
hello Mr. Chuping
I’m kinda surprised that you take balcony
a serious issue to talk about,
I thought I’m the only one who want this kind of life style,
most of the apts in Taipei don’t provide this “luxury space”,
only those who can afford a Benz or BMW are affordable ~
but thank you for let me know I’m not alone, and I’m happy to
raise both my hands up to support this life style!
Shuman
Dear朱先生:我在兩年前買了一間預售屋,當時好興奮找到
這樣的產品, 在頂樓有8平的露臺,每次想像在自己的大陽台看書,沉思,喝下午茶和一家四口躺在露台看星星,和朋友們在露台聊天曬太陽就覺得好享受 ,很多朋友問我為什麼不買樓下兩戶打通,可用的室內空間會增加許多,把8坪的空間拿來做房間,整體會更豪氣,我說我喜歡大陽台,他讓我感覺和世界連結,有一個可以讓我放慢腳步享受當下的空間我很期待有大陽台的生活,我最近交屋了,在和設計師討論規劃,看到朱先生的文章很開心有人和我一樣,家,應該是可以讓人放鬆,休息和自己相處的地方^^未來我會跟身邊更多的人分享我的大陽台生活,(下次我們私塾同學聚會也許可以安排在我的大陽台喔!!)
謝謝您~這篇文章不僅敘述了生活空間的價值!
更是談到了很多的價值觀,對年輕人來說,
應該是很受用的! 我長年跟家人住在一起,多年來也還無法置產,擁有屬於自己的空間! 生活在台北,更不會去想要花錢租屋而居,從來沒有過任何屬於自己的美學創意……..
這篇文章,觸動了些自己從沒有過的想法!
當然….經過教育後,我願意跳脫原來的巢臼,選擇大陽台的空間!