Designed over a 4 year period, this series of residential towers represents a strand of ongoing projects designed for sites in central Taipei. The projects strive to rethink the typology of housing tower as a tall box with repetitive balconies, as is the case with most housing in Taipei. The majority of the proposals utilize geometry and materiality to accommodate the needs of the tenants but also to create a scheme that is not based on consistent repetition. Stainless steel screens are applied to the surfaces of the buildings to mask the simple, repetitive units behind, as well as enhancing the geometries of the flowing balconies. This first scheme also considers the need for an integrated approach to the design of the two major building volumes. Rather than simply designing a 15 story residential building with an adjacent 7 story commercial building, we studied an approach that creates a seamless transition of the two elements. With this scheme, however, we utilized the residential balconies as a design element that extends into the commercial zone. While the actual usage remains separated, this strategy allows for a similar design aesthetic throughout.
The building includes a carefully considered weaving together of four primary building materials: 1) exposed concrete for the floor systems, concrete elevator core, stairs, and selective wall areas that provide necessary privacy for the residential units, 2) transparent glass enclosing the residential units, but allowing for spectacular views, 3) translucent glass with insulated backer on selective portions of the building. This provides privacy for areas like bathrooms and closets, and 4) stainless steel sunscreens that provide shading in front of exposed transparent glass. Aesthetically, the screens unify the overall façade and allow for more depth and variety than a conventional glass façade. Many of the shading devices may be opened to allow for unobstructed views, while others remain closed to provide a permanent shading system. The stainless steel sunscreens are also a unique design feature at night, as the glow of interior lights is projected through the screens.
