’21st century oasis’ by sou fujimoto architects, taichung city, taiwan all images courtesy taiwan tower international competition + sou fujimoto architects

 

 

 

the proposal ’21st century oasis’ by japanese practice sou fujimoto architects in collaboration with taiwanese firm fei & cheng associates has taken first place in the taiwan tower international competition for taichung city. derived from the trunk of the taiwanese banyan tree, the ornate structural system will frame a semi-outdoor interior space generating a dappled light quality as found beneath a leafy deciduous canopy. positioned within a green belt, the building will become an urban retreat with a green rooftop ‘island’ floating 300 meters above the city. representing the divine isle of formosa, the garden will reintroduce the beauty of nature into the urban fabric while becoming a symbolic landmark visible from many points throughout the city.

 

 

sou fujimoto wins taiwan tower competition conic building height atrium with perimeter ramp circulation

 

 

a variety of renewable energy systems and passive design techniques have been integrated into the design including rainwater harvesting, solar hot water panels, wind turbines, photovoltaic cells, ground source heat pumps, desiccant air-handling units and natural ventilation due to the inherent stack effect. mitigating the impact on infrastructure, the collection of systems will reduce half of the consumption and carbon emissions. the exterior effect of the steel construction is produced with vertical and inclined perimeter, inner and intermediate columns as well as spiral beams and roof beams. the presence of leaning vertical elements – comprised of 80mm diameter hollow tubes – will provide lateral stability from wind and earthquakes loads. comprised of two intertwined units, the spiral beams stitch together the outer and inner row of columns from the ground floor to the roof plane, preventing buckling due to their slender proportions. a conic atrium is maintained within the center of the building’s footprint spanning the entire height of the tower.

 

 

sou fujimoto wins taiwan tower competition view from the surrounding context

 

 

adjacent to cultural districts, the program will consist of museum and exhibition spaces. visitors circulate upwards via an elevator placed within the acute point of the triangulated footprint. the facades contain LED lights which create an airy and hazy effect which changes in color and intensity. the exterior transitions into a sleeping state creating a starry  illumination which evokes a similar effect of chinese lanterns.

 

 

sou fujimoto wins taiwan tower competition base of the tower

 

 

sou fujimoto wins taiwan tower competition aerial view of roof garden

 

 

sou fujimoto wins taiwan tower competition roof garden planted with the native chinese pistache and oak trees

 

 

sou fujimoto wins taiwan tower competition lobby

 

 

sou fujimoto wins taiwan tower competition lobby

 

 

sou fujimoto wins taiwan tower competition observatory

 

 

sou fujimoto wins taiwan tower competition exhibition space

 

 

sou fujimoto wins taiwan tower competition museum foyer

 

 

sou fujimoto wins taiwan tower competition axonometric

 

 

sou fujimoto wins taiwan tower competition elevation

 

 

sou fujimoto wins taiwan tower competition eiffel tower vs. taiwan tower diagram

 

 

sou fujimoto wins taiwan tower competition banyan tree and formosa elements within exterior

 

 

sou fujimoto wins taiwan tower competition large surface area of the facade allows for many lighting schemes

 

 

sou fujimoto wins taiwan tower competition (left) lighting effect derived from chinese lantern (right) roof garden illuminated

 

 

sou fujimoto wins taiwan tower competition (left) program (right) traffic

 

 

sou fujimoto wins taiwan tower competition facade lighting diagram

 

 

sou fujimoto wins taiwan tower competition green roof, photovoltaic cells, wind turbine units

 

 

sou fujimoto wins taiwan tower competition framing diagram

sou fujimoto wins taiwan tower competition construction phasing diagram