How hard is it to find an apartment with good natural lighting here and does anyone have any tips for how to find these places?
I’ve been looking at a lot of places in da’an and I’ve found it very difficult to find apartments with big windows that let light in. Most have windows facing walls of other buildings outside, or small windows that don’t let in much light. The other result of few/small windows is very poor ventilation and lack of fresh air. Some of these places are expensive too - near 30,000.
It seems very unhealthy to live like that and I think it must be making a lot of people sick - but it seems to be the norm. I’ve had to pass up a few places I really liked in every other respect simply because of concerns about lack of natural light. This might be more important to me then others because I work from home. I did see one place - only one - with massive clear windows that let in light from every side - but unfortunately it was located on a very busy street and right across from a construction site.
Danshui has a lot of those newer buildings, tall buildings that is sure to have natural light. They won’t be too expensive either. The problem is the train to danshui is chronically full because they don’t run enough trains.
Actually if you get a room in those tall newer buildings they’ll have natural light. Just don’t look in daan district or xinyi. The tall buildings there will be extremely expensive.
Where isn’t there a construction site? Large windows AND no construction, you may need to lower your expectations. I’ve got a great rooftop garden with sliding glass doors. It’s great, but the construction is neverending. One completes and another begins.
Even apartments with big windows and a lot of sunshine time aren’t that luminous here because all windows are tinted. Not manta black tinted as many car windows, but enough to reduce the amount of light into the apartment.
Then there’s the construction style of hiding windows behind, below or at more inner level than other structural elements. See an example:
I can see the rationale for that, although I’m glad our windows have only a very light tint. If we forget to close the curtains before leaving for the day, in summer especially, oof. It’s hot when we get back.
I’ve got many sun-bleached book spines too. Still worth it. I don’t know how people manage with so little natural light in their lives, but perhaps my mood depends on that more than usual.
I’d rather not spend more than 30,000 ntd. Even that seems pretty excessive to me compared to what I’ve spent in other parts of Asia - but I recognize my options are limited since I need to be in da’an and I know it’s the most expensive district. If I had more flexibility with location I’d definitely settle in Danshui.
It’s just that you tend to get better lighting/ventilation in the newer buildings, especially around Daan park. Of course the budget alternative is a rooftop apartment, which I am a big proponent of.
Then your only option is rooftops. The con is that your air conditioning cost will be extremely high, the rooftop has zero insulation or shade from the sun and gets the full brunt of the heat in the middle of the summer. If you are ok with that, then go for it.
Expect to spend near your budget if you are going to live in Daan district.