【APEXVILLA】, Sleeping by the Springs, Rising with the Moon, peacefully nestled in the Lanyang Plain of Yilan, It soothes the soul of every traveler who visits.
Yet, ApexVilla was not initially created for business. Its existence is a testament to a family’s legacy, born from the love and filial piety of a son for his parents. The founder, Mr. Zhang, built the original three-sided courtyard to care for his aging parents. In gratitude for their lifelong efforts, he named the villa after his father, Zhang Chuan-rong, and his mother, Zhang Huang-yue, each contributing a character to the name ApexVilla. From then on, ApexVilla became a symbol of the Lanyang Plain, and the family found their home there.
As time passed, circumstances changed. The founder’s father passed away, his mother moved away, and the children left to pursue their own aspirations. What was once a lively courtyard grew quiet over time. Driven by the belief in sustainable architecture, Mr. Zhang couldn’t bear to let the family’s memories fade. He decided to renovate ApexVilla and share its story and meaning with the public. He even invested heavily in modern hot spring technology, transforming it into a hot spring guesthouse to offer travelers a more leisurely and enhanced experience.
Yilan’s Dongshan Township is known for its deep connection to the land, and ApexVilla stands amidst vast fields. From the villa, the view stretches from lush fields to distant mountains. bring Yilan’s greenery into the villa, the founder filled the estate with an abundance of plants. On one hand, this allowed the landscape to be shaped by nature, achieving a delicate elegance without intricate design. On the other, it gave guests the opportunity to enjoy nature’s offerings without traveling far, taking leisurely walks within the villa to breathe in the fresh air and experience the beauty of the environment. Among the many plants, a few five-needle pines hold a special place in the founder’s heart. Upon learning that a plot of farmland in Changhua, set to be auctioned off, would result in the removal of its five-needle pines, Mr. Zhang, guided by the belief that all things have a soul and should be cherished, decided to relocate these trees from Changhua to Yilan, where they continue to thrive. A particularly meaningful detail within the villa is the inclusion of a small Guishan Island. Guishan Island is a renowned landmark in Yilan, known for its breathtaking natural beauty, attracting both domestic and international tourists. It is also the hometown of the founder’s mother. In gratitude for the land that has carried three generations of the Zhang family and provided them a place to settle, he founder commissioned a designer to incorporate a symbolic representation of Guishan Island into the villa’s design, as a way to deepen his connection with his mother and their family heritage.
Mr. Zhang has always understood the importance of maintaining harmony within the family and the wisdom needed to run a household. The essence of his philosophy lies in "balance" and "non-action," concepts that are difficult to put into words. As the old saying goes, "A clear mirror helps one dress properly, and the past serves as a guide to future prosperity." To remind himself of these principles and to share them with others, he placed a central landscape feature in the courtyard at the entrance of the villa, designed based on the concept of the Taiji symbol. Visitors can stroll along the path that curves gently inward, but only from a bird’s-eye view can they truly appreciate the black and white contrast and grand elegance of the design.
Every detail within the villa reflects Mr. Zhang’s philosophy and emotional connection to the space. Yilan is a region rooted in agriculture, with a slow and leisurely pace of life. Mr. Zhang hopes that every traveler who visits can experience genuine peace and tranquility. To that end, he specifically set up an open-air TeaHouse within the villa, inviting scholars and poets to linger and enjoy. Each guest room is also equipped with a tea set, allowing the calming aroma of tea to soothe the traveler’s weary soul, settling restless thoughts at the end of the day. Flower arranging, incense burning, painting, and tea, collectively known as the "four arts," frequently appear at tea ceremonies. nspired by this, Mr. Zhang transformed the basement of the villa into a studio for painting and calligraphy, where works of art are displayed, and his personal collection of books is available to guests seeking a quiet place to read and reflect.
As the space took shape and travelers' smiles and feedback continued to pour in, Mr. Zhang became more certain that ApexVilla must be sustained for future generations. His eldest son, Mr. Zhang Yi, after many years in Japan, has achieved great success in hotel management and operations. Unwilling to see his father, now at the age when he should be enjoying his grandchildren, still managing the family business daily, the father and son share mutual understanding and trust. Mr. Zhang Yi has taken over the reins of ApexVilla, inheriting the legacy his father built. Drawing on his experience in Japan, he has merged Taiwanese culture and traditions with modern management strategies, further enhancing and upgrading ApexVilla. He not only preserved the strengths of his father’s era but also introduced new highlights, expanding the brand’s reach. With a shared vision rooted in "protection," the father and son are committed to making ApexVilla a more vibrant and sustainable place, continuing to accompany travelers and writing more stories. They hope to make ApexVilla a haven where visitors can pause, reflect, and find serenity in Yilan's Dongshan Township.
