The Magician Who Brought “Eslite” onto a Plane — Chen Rui-Xian: I Am a Space Translator

Reported and photographed by reporter You T-Ru / Onboard China Airlines flight

This year (2014) has been bustling in Taiwan’s aviation industry. In addition to two domestic airlines launching low-cost carriers, EVA Air and China Airlines have also introduced the new B777-300ER aircraft. However, China Airlines played a bold new card by inviting “Chen Rui-Xian,” who once designed Eslite Bookstore and is hailed as one of the five most influential architects in Greater China, to bring the atmosphere of the earth into the sky and create an entirely new kind of flying ambiance.


▲ “Chen Rui-Xian,” bringing the atmosphere of the earth into the sky and creating an entirely new kind of flying ambiance.

Bringing the unique aesthetics exclusive to Eslite Bookstore onto a plane?Chen Rui-Xian likens his design to this: “I am a translator, conveying feelings through design.”In fact, Chen Rui-Xian’s designs need little explanation. The strength and aesthetics hidden within the space are as simple and intuitive as breathing. As a designer who calls himself a translator, the spatial translation he offers delivers a feeling that is both comforting and clear — and that is the simplest impression the China Airlines B777-300ER gives.

Dressed plainly, casually yet stylishly, Chen Rui-Xian’s appearance is just like his designs — not ostentatious but full of human warmth. Two years ago, Chen Rui-Xian took on the task of “designing a new airplane” from China Airlines, beginning his journey around the world to gather reference materials. “I must admit, these were two tough years.” Due to the uniqueness of aviation materials, Chen Rui-Xian tried to use various different materials, but was continuously turned down by manufacturers. Chen Rui-Xian joked, “There are many materials you can use on land, but only a few in the sky. I had to abandon many things I originally thought were feasible.”


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Feeling he had achieved “80 points of what I imagined” on the plane, Chen Rui-Xian used spatial design to present interesting observations — for example, the “Travelers Among Mountains and Streams” painting in the lavatory, allowing passengers to enjoy the view out the window alongside the artwork, or even make eye contact with the tiny figure on the mountaintop in the painting, appreciating art in the sky. Andthe black panel on the right side of the plane once featured a line from the Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei: “Sitting and watching the clouds rise.”“The feeling of something being hidden is meant to give passengers who fly again a second or third time a little surprise and rediscover new details.”

Reflecting on a uniquely Taiwanese aesthetic, Chen Rui-Xian chose to express it through the minimalist beauty of the Song Dynasty, using simple persimmon wood as the base. The luxury business class cabins are accented with desk lamps beside the seats, offering the warmth of a home study. This minimal yet intimate expression of emotion is what Chen Rui-Xian believes is the most beautiful philosophy to introduce Taiwan to foreigners. “Song Dynasty aesthetics have a modern feel yet are simple — it’s a perfect entry point.”


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Chen Rui-Xian stated that he presented the airplane through four main themes: technology, nature, commitment, and culture, using silver, wood, red, and blue as the corresponding color scheme on the aircraft. The seats include a socializing function and easy-to-use adjustment panels, representing the silver of technology; the natural wood color runs throughout the entire plane; the red interspersed among the economy class seats symbolizes the promise of an ancient seal stamp; and the most important color in Chinese aesthetics, blue, represents culture. “Put these four together, and you get the vision of the entire airplane.”