Century-Old Thatched House Preserves Taiwan’s Low-Carbon Building Wisdom

Deep in the mountains of Shenkeng, New Taipei City, stands a century-old thatched house, accessible only
by a one-hour hike from the city. The house is not only containing historical stories, but also reflects the
low-carbon wisdom of early settlers living in harmony with nature.

The house built with 70 to 80 layers of earthen walls and breathable brick walls, the thatched house naturally
reduces the indoor temperatures reach up to 4°C, creating a comfortable living space that stays warm in
winter and cool in summer, while makes the house can breathe.

The roof of thatched house must be replaced by new brick in every 4 years. Lin’s family collected cogon
grass over several years to keep a supply for future roof repairs. The old thatch removed during
replacement was returned to the land as natural compost, creating a zero-waste lifestyle based on
resource recycling, while this act fully reflects the wisdom passed down by Taiwan's early settlers.

As Europe experiences record-breaking temperatures recently, this thatched house hidden in the mountains
serves as a reminder that a low-carbon lifestyle is not beyond our reach. From reducing waste to living
closer to nature, every action can help protect the land. May this green wisdom continue to be passed on
for the next hundred years.
 

 以下為中文對照

會呼吸的百年草厝 山林裡的低碳智慧

在新北深坑山林裡，藏著一座必須步行一小時才能抵達的百年草厝。這座已有150年歷史的茅草屋，不只是老建築，更蘊含著先民與自然共生的低碳智慧。以70至80層厚實土牆搭配透氣磚牆構成的草厝，能自然調節溫度，室內外溫差可達4度，形成冬暖夏涼的舒適空間，也讓房子像會「呼吸」一樣。

​草厝屋頂使用白茅草鋪設，每4年需重新更換一次。過去林家會連續採收數年白茅草備用，而替換下來的茅草則回歸土地成為天然堆肥，形成零廢棄、循環再利用的生活模式。這種順應環境、減少浪費的方式，正是老祖先留給現代人的珍貴生態智慧。

在追求永續與減碳的今天，這座山中的草厝提醒著我們：低碳生活其實不遙遠，從珍惜資源、減少浪費到親近自然，都能成為守護土地的一步。讓這份綠色智慧，繼續延續下一個百年。

照片