Taiwan Tower

As an artefact of traditional craft and high-technology achievements of the nation, it will display various Taiwanese crafts and arts, like stone carving which will become part of the Taiwan tower and the experience of the building.
The base of the tower and the museum itself form a vibrant and permeable urban space. Located logically in the Gateway Park, they will act as a connecting node and create a vibrant and interactive public space with its own urban pulse. The open system of the tower Base and the Lobbies are fully linked into the public realm. The Base, in dialogue with the landscape, provides an integrated and sculptured roofscape, creating a fluid system of connections between the topology of the site and the footing of the tower. This approach creates a symbiotic relationship of natural and built landscape as a pervious, multilayered network of circulation routes. The plan organization of the structure is reminiscent of the formal logic of an Orchid, the ‘Blossom Formosa’, while the leitmotiv for the merging of the structure with the topography, reminds of roots that merge the structure of a tree with the ground.

The tower consists of three converging concrete columns which taper in plan to achieve optimal structural shape, providing a highly efficient and robust structural system. Two of the columns serve as enclosures for escape staircases and fire fighting lifts, while the third column provides riser space and acts primarily as solar updraft energy plant, as well as a stack contributing to the natural ventilation of the museum, lobby spaces and car park.
The vertical transportation system consists of three wall climbing lifts which efficiently connect to the observatory platforms, while the lift journey provides an outstanding experience for the user/ visitor. These will be the first 300M high scenic (wall climbing) lifts in the world.

The central section of the tower – the so called clover leaves – contain lobby spaces, auditorium, multipurpose spaces and recreation/amenity areas such a cafe and restaurant, nested in an amazing three dimensional environment of platforms which span above a vibrant public space.
Further levels in the tower are allocated to the environmental monitoring and R+D facilities as well as to areal transmission antennas and telecommunications equipment. The two uppermost levels of observation platforms offer breath-taking vantage points to Taichung’s mountains and sea, affording different views at different heights. The structural efficiency of the tower to provide the observation platform is seen as a crucial part in achieving a green building. The central section of the tower – the so called clover leaves – contain lobby spaces, auditorium, multipurpose spaces and recreation/amenity areas such cafe and restaurant, nested in an amazing three dimensional environment of platforms which span above a vibrant public space.

The lobbies are spatially intertwined with the under laying public space and the museum functions. It is an animated space creating three-dimensional vistas and dynamic visual connections, which links into the public plaza from underneath / below.
The formal inspiration for the merging of the structure with the topography is taken from the roots of a camphor tree.
All existing historical trees will be retained and transplanted to create a lush park that provides vital shade in the summer months.

ClientCity of TaipeiHeight325mCollaboratorsARUP Structures +MEP , ARUP Vertical Transportation