Dajia Stone House

Dajia Stone House

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This three-storey residence on the outskirts of Youshi Industrial Zone (幼獅工業區) in Dajia, Taichung, became widely known in the early 2020s for its unusual collection of maritime detritus covering the exterior. The house’s septuagenarian owner, surnamed Liu (劉), spent several decades riding out to the coast by motorcycle to gather nautical buoys, hemp ropes, stones, and other castoff objects to decorate the family residence. The house features only one functional entrance, with the remainder of its surface area devoted to this elaborate assemblage of found objects.

Dajia Stone House (大甲石頭屋)
Date Captured
Camera
DC-S5M2
Lens
LUMIX S 20-60mm F3.5-5.6
Aperture
ƒ / 4
Shutter Speed
1/640 sec
Focal Length
20.0 mm
ISO
100
Exposure Value
13.3 EV
An outlandish sight in suburban Taichung.
Oblique View of Dajia Stone House (大甲石頭屋)
Date Captured
Camera
DC-S5M2
Lens
LUMIX S 20-60mm F3.5-5.6
Aperture
ƒ / 7.1
Shutter Speed
1/250 sec
Focal Length
31.0 mm
ISO
100
Exposure Value
13.6 EV
A closer look at the many colourful buoys and floats adorning the Liu family residence.
Top Corner of Dajia Stone House (大甲石頭屋)
Date Captured
Camera
DC-S5M2
Lens
LUMIX S 20-60mm F3.5-5.6
Aperture
ƒ / 5
Shutter Speed
1/640 sec
Focal Length
33.0 mm
ISO
100
Exposure Value
14.0 EV
A large collection of discarded windowpanes can also be seen on the rooftop.

After going viral on social media the property earned nicknames such as the Dajia Stone House (大甲石頭屋) or Balloon House (爆紅氣球屋). Its outlandish appearance earned many comparisons to the Pixar film Up (天外奇蹟, 2009), as it almost appears as if the house might float away into the deep blue sky at any moment.

Along the Side of Dajia Stone House (大甲石頭屋)
Date Captured
Camera
DC-S5M2
Lens
LUMIX S 20-60mm F3.5-5.6
Aperture
ƒ / 3.5
Shutter Speed
1/250 sec
Focal Length
20.0 mm
ISO
100
Exposure Value
11.6 EV
The side entrances of the residence are completely blocked by a towering pile of junk.
Side View of Dajia Stone House (大甲石頭屋)
Date Captured
Camera
DC-S5M2
Lens
LUMIX S 20-60mm F3.5-5.6
Aperture
ƒ / 5
Shutter Speed
1/200 sec
Focal Length
20.0 mm
ISO
100
Exposure Value
12.3 EV
Plant life has colonized much of the exterior of the structure.
Frontal View of Dajia Stone House (大甲石頭屋)
Date Captured
Camera
Galaxy S23
Lens
Samsung Galaxy S23 Rear Wide Camera
Aperture
ƒ / 1.8
Shutter Speed
1/1700 sec
Focal Length
5.4 mm
ISO
32
Exposure Value
12.4 EV
A Closer Look at Dajia Stone House (大甲石頭屋)
Date Captured
Camera
Galaxy S23
Lens
Samsung Galaxy S23 Rear Wide Camera
Aperture
ƒ / 1.8
Shutter Speed
1/550 sec
Focal Length
5.4 mm
ISO
25
Exposure Value
10.8 EV

Of course, nearby residents have been none too pleased with the growing eyesore, and with public scrutiny came increased pressure to deal with the residence as a public health nuisance. These issues eventually prompted intervention from municipal authorities, who undertook a comprehensive cleanup of the site in late 2024.

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  • Status:Converted (改建)
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I am a web application developer, photojournalist, urban explorer, and history enthusiast passionate about the open web and documenting my experiences on this planet. This project was founded in the early 2010s and has evolved into a sort of personal Wikipedia of places that interest me (and often the photographs I’ve taken there). I’m originally from Toronto, Canada, but spend most of my time residing in Taiwan.

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