mieszkanie w Taipei / a flat in Taipei

Jako, ze temat mieszkan jest mi ostatnio bardzo bliski z powodu naszej przeprowadzki, stwierdzilam, ze dobrym pomyslem na posta beda rodzaje mieszkan, jakie mozna dostac w Taipei. Wybor jest duzy, w zaleznosci od naszych wymagan i budzetu bedziemy mogli wybrac od duzych i przestronnych, przez studia, az do tych, na ktore nas najzwyczajniej w swiecie stac. I tak zaczynajac od najwazniejszej informacji - wielkosc apartamentow na Tajwanie nie mierzy sie w metrach kwadratowych, ale w pings (1 ping = okolo 3.3 m2). Najmniejsze "mieszkania", a raczej pokoje, moga miec juz od 4 pings wliczajac prywatna lazienke, zwykle jednak ich wielkosc waha sie w okolicach 8-12 pings.

While the apartment topic has been very dear to me lately due to our relocation to a new place, I decided it would be a good idea to write about what kinds of flats you can find in Taipei. There are many choices and depending on our requirements and budget we will be able to choose something from big and spacious apartments, small studios to the simply affordable ones. And so starting from the very important info - the flats in Taiwan are measured in pings instead of square meters (1 ping = around 3.3 m2). The smallest "flats" or rather rooms can have as little as 4 pings including the private bathroom. However usually they measure around 8-12 pings. 

Idac rosnaco nastepnym mieszkaniem niewiele wiekszym od "pokoju" sa studia. Maja one zwykle aneks kuchenny, lazienke, kanape z telewizorem, balkon gospodarczy i mierza w okolicach kilkunastu pings.

Next in size, not much bigger than a single room, are studio apartments. They usually have their own kitchen, bathroom, sofa, TV, balcony and measure over a dozen pings. 

Swego rodzaju "odmiana" studia moga byc mieszkania z podwieszana podloga, ktore zwykle maja te sama powierzchnie + loft, gdzie prawie zawsze znajduje sie lozko/materac. 

Some kind of variant for studios are loft floor apartments which usually are similar in size to studios + they have a loft floor where the bed is located.

Po tych malutkich mieszkankach zaczynaja sie zwkle apartamenty z 2, 3 lub wiecej sypialniami. Moga one mierzyc od 20 do nawet ponad 100 pings, jednak patrzac na regularne rozmiary mieszkan w Taipei powiedzialabym, ze te z dwoma sypialniami maja zwykle 20-25 pings, a te z trzema 30-40.

After those tiny flats start normal apartments with 2, 3 or more bedrooms. They can be as big as 20 to even more than 100 pings, however looking at the average size of the flat in Taipei I would say those with two bedrooms will have around 20-25 pings, and those with three around 30-40 pings.

Powyzej mieszkanie z 2 sypialniami. Ponizej z 3, z ktorego wlasnie sie wyprowadzamy.

Above: apartment with 2 bedrooms. Below: 3 bedrooms flat from which we're moving out right now.

Zeby nie bylo kolorowo sa sytuacje, ktore zmuszaja nas do znalezienia mieszkania w nieciekawej dzielnicy np. ze wzgledu na nasza prace. W takich "nieciekawych" dzielnicach bloki sa zwykle niewysokie i stare, bardzo czesto nie odnowione od czasow wybudowania. Ich plusem moze byc fakt, ze ceny nie sa wysokie, a mieszkania same w sobie spore.

Sometimes the situation forces us to find a flat in a not-so-friendly neighborhood or district (eg. because of our work). In those places the buildings are usually mid-rise and quite old, very often not renovated since they had been built. Their advantage is the fact that they're quite cheap and spacious.

Na pocieszenie kolejna opcja moga byc tak zwane rooftop apartment, ktore sa po prostu malym domkiem wybudowanym na dachu bloku. Duzo obcokrajowcow ceni sobie prywatne patio / taras, w ktore sa w wiekszosci przypadkow wyposazone.

Another option can be so called rooftop apartments which are nothing more than little houses built at the top of regular apartment buildings. A lot of foreigners enjoy their private patio/ balcony which in most cases are a a part of rooftop apartments. 

Na deser zostawilam cos, co ciezko znalezc w Taipei - domki rodzinne. W celu nabycia takowego najlepiej od razu skreslic mieszkanie w scislym centrum i przeniesc poszukiwania na obrzeza miasta, np Xindian (wysoko w gorach), czy Danshui. Plusem takiego domu na granicach Taipei jest jego nizsza cena.

For the end I left something very hard to find in Taipei - one family houses. To get one it's best to forget about living in the city centre and move our search to the suburbs, eg. Xindian (high in the mountains) or Danshui. Advantage? Lower price!

Tak! Wlasna prywatna winda w domu. Czemu nie?
Yes! Your own elevator. Why not?

A jak juz jestesmy przy temacie apartamentow, ktore wiekszosc z nas chcialaby posiadac, to dodatkowo wrzucam zdjecia nowego mieszkania do wynajecia w Danshui. Takich miejsc mozna znalezc bardzo duzo, wystarczy szukac w nowych dzielnicach. Ostatnio zauwazylam tendencje wzwyzkowa jezeli chodzi o wielkosc unitow w nowo wybudowanych apartamentowcach. Nic, tylko sie cieszyc!

And while we're talking about apartments that most of us would like to have, I'm adding some pictures of the new flat for rent in Danshui. There's a lot of places like this one, you just have to look in the new neighborhoods. Recently I've noticed that units in new buildings are getting bigger and bigger. We can only be happy about it!

Jak juz wczesniej pisalam w Taipei kazdy moze znalezc cos dla siebie. Czasami trzeba pojsc na kompromis i wybrac miejsce na przyklad troche bardziej oddalone od stacji metra, ale za to wieksze i tansze, niz na sile szukac mieszkania idealnego bo te, jak wiadomo, nie istnieja. Jezeli cenimy sobie wygode i mieszkamy sami, warto poprzegladac studia i lofty w centrum zamiast wielkie mieszkania na obrzezach. Jezeli natomiast przyjezdzamy na wyspe z rodzina i mamy w planach kupno samochodu warto rozejrzec sie po New Taipei City, gdzie domy i domki sa w cenie apartamentow w centrum.
Dla wszystkich zainteresowanych apartamentami na Tajwanie polecam rent.591.com.tw.

As I wrote before, everyone can find something suitable in Taipei. Sometimes we have to compromise and chose a place that f.e. isn't as close to the MRT station as we wish it was but maybe it's bigger and cheaper. Never force yourself to find yourself something perfect because perfect places don't exist. If you like convenience and live by yourself, it's worth to take a look at lofts and studios in the city centre instead of big apartments in the suburbs. However if you're coming to the island, bringing your family along and going to buy a car it's a good idea to take a look at New Taipei City where spacious houses have same price as apartments in the heart of the city.
For everyone interested in apartments in Taiwan I recommend rent.591.com.tw .