Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal / Sou Fujimoto Architects
Courtesy of Sou Fujimoto Architects
Tokyo-based architect Sou Fujimoto has been selected as the first prize winner for the Taiwan Tower International Competition. The winning proposal’s design reflects Sou Fujimoto’s philosophy of Primitive Future, as the “21st Century Oasis” aspires to be a model of green architecture for the future generations.
Continue reading for more project information and images.
Courtesy of Sou Fujimoto Architects
The Oasis strives to embody the 21st Century spirit of Taiwan, similar to the Eiffel Tower and 20th Century Paris. The tower gracefully rises above the city at the southern tip of Taichung Gateway Park, part of the former Taichung (Shuinan) Airport site.
Banyan + Formosa - Courtesy of Sou Fujimoto Architects
The project is comprised of two main elements – the grand structural frame and the roof-top garden. Inspired by the Taiwanese Banyan tree, the structural frame creates a shaded, semi-outdoor space as it encases the site. Simultaneously, the roof-top garden floats 300 meters above, representing the richness of beauty and nature of Formosa (Divine Island).
Courtesy of Sou Fujimoto Architects
Renewable energy systems and passive design techniques include a green roof, rainwater harvesting, solar hot water panels, wind turbine, photovoltaic cells, ground source heat pump, desiccant air-handling unit and natural ventilations by Solar Stack Effect. The Oasis will achieve LEED Gold.
Courtesy of Sou Fujimoto Architects
The superstructure of the tower will be steel construction comprised of Perimeter Columns, Inner Columns, Intermediate Columns, Spiral Beams and Roof Beams. All columns will be circular hollow sections of about 800mm in diameter. The “Taiwan Cone” is made of the Inner Columns, arranged longitudinally for aesthetics. The Perimeter Columns and Intermediate Columns are placed both vertical and leaning so they may resist lateral wind and earthquake loads.
Courtesy of Sou Fujimoto Architects
Spiral Beams form two spiral-shaped braced planes, which extend from the ground to the roof between Perimeter Columns and Inner Columns. They are expected to prevent buckling. Each spiral plane rises about 30 meters near the ground, the point in which the axial forces of the columns are relatively high. The rise continues to gradually increase up to about 60 meters as it goes higher.
Courtesy of Sou Fujimoto Architects
The light of the tower has “no obvious form”, as it represents an all natural phenomenon. The transparent, nonobjective feel is perceived as an “air-like light.” The roof-top garden is the three-dimensional continuation of the green-belt. The tower is meant to be graceful in nature and ever-changing, similar to the people of Taiwan.
Reference: Sou Fujimoto Architects, akichiatlas.com, Death by Architecture
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- Courtesy of Sou Fujimoto Architects
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- Banyan + Formosa – Courtesy of Sou Fujimoto Architects
Wasting steel much?
Nothing says green architecture quite like lifting an existing park hundreds of meters into the air atop thousand of tons of structural steel
unreal. surreal.
Clear evidence that our green building rating systems are a joke. A ginormous waste of steel that serves no purpose. At least the Eiffel tower was designed as efficiently as possible in regards to material use.
Absolutely right that our green building rating systems are a joke. However, you’re absolutely wrong that using a lot of material serves “no purpose”. Clearly this structure would create an incredibly powerful and moving symbol. It’s actually quite similar to the Eiffel tower in showcasing the technological achievement of the day and creating an icon.
Architecture with the power to move people and amaze them is hardly a waste. I would argue that “green” projects that do not carefully consider people’s happiness are also wasteful of resources.
100 years before the Eiffel Tower was erected in Paris the first manned hot air balloon flew in that very same city. The Eiffel Tower was not the most efficient way to observe the city from that vantage point, and they could have built a radio tower that didn’t require 10,000 tons of material. It was not built for efficiency, it was built for awe.
absolutely agree… u remind me of my lecturer :D
Believe it or not, this is the best of the 5 “finalists”… what a joke of a competition.
Of the top 5 I’d have to go with #5 the HMC proposal. With this one all I see is a green roof that lost its building.
Interesting concept
I like this solution
just wooow
Looks like a cool sculpture, “an oasis in the sky”. But let’s face it: there’s absolutely nothing green in wasting material and creating megalomanic symbols like this. If they really wanted to go green, they could’ve just built the coolest and most biologically diverse public park in the world instead, without the tower.
I love where this project is heading. I hope it gets built, and I hope to experience it. Since when is it a waste of resources to build something inspiring? Thinking only of efficiency denies people their well-being.
Also, yes I realize that denying the need to create sustainable projects can also deny people well-being. If we continue on our current path then we are all going to have a horrible future. Let’s try not to throw everything else that architecture can be out the window though.
The most sustainable building is one that doesn’t have to be built. Sure, build a 300m high folly if you want, but don’t patronise with this ‘sustainability’ greenwash.
this is uncharacteristically inconsiderate of sou fujimoto. I did not expect this from him
what are you talking about? He’s always been into architectural wankery.
yes he is into wankery, but sensitive wankery if you know what I mean. This was just way over the top.
I’m sure the architect thought this: Hey lets build a ecological place over a lot of useless steel.
As a Taiwanese, I sincerely hope this proposal is not gonna get built.
My biggest concern is the impact of its huge massing to its surroundings, while it may be interesting to look at night, the day-time experience no doubt would be a disaster to its immediate neighbors – blocking views of sky/skyline and the city.
To distant viewers, it at best serves as a huge rectangular white wall, which neither shows structural delicacy as Eiffel Tower, nor does it present a graceful gesture making a contribution to improve the city’s skyline like ” a tower” in a traditional sense.
The oasis in the air, judging from the presentation material, seems to benefit mostly passengers on airplanes and readers of architectural magazines.
As for sustainability issues, like many have pointed out, the quantity of steel used, the maintenance of landscaping in the air, and the quantity of lights required to use to achieve the effect the drawing shows (while light pollution is a more subjective issue) really worry me.
For the sake of benefit of residents in Taichung and the skyline of Taichung City, I hope my perception about this proposal is wrong if the city council unfortunately approves the budget of this project.
The building and the idea are both beautiful. The icon it creates is strong and the message is direct.
However, the fact of the matter is this: Architects today have a social responsibility to design buildings sustainably without waste. Using the Eiffel Tower as a comparison is irrelevant, it was a different era with different constraints.
…ipso facto don’t be dumb, save materials, energy, and time, dummies
Why does the architect have a “social responsibility to design buildings sustainably without waste” ?
must be boring to design and build “your kind” of building
How are we supposed to take Asian architecture/competitions if they keep on doing this crap!
* take Asian archiecture seriously…
Unfortunately, more effort is being placed these days on the ‘branding’ of an idea than on the actual architecture itself…
to be honest, i’d rather put steel into building this project rather than all the other architectural crap in U.A.E
No wonder architects have a bad name afterwards.
By the way, did Fujimoto had a chance to glance at what his interns did before this was submitted?
Eiffel Tower was built in 1889. Making it 19c. Agree with the comments regarding material waste. Not much “sustainability” in the project. All that manufacturing and transport of materials. That’s a nice carbon footprint. I don’t agree with the “future primitive” hogwash either. Nothing about this has the sensibilities of a so-called primitive architecture. Look at the Persian wind catchers, the heat stratification in an igloo, the thermal mass building techniques of the Anasazi. All of which, use site/environmental criteria and natural resources to drive novel building methods and embrace culture specificity. Sorry Fujimoto, better luck next time.
certainly, awe and wonder are just as important as lbs of steel used, one might argue more important (the less “green” of us perhaps). but arent we all a bit tired of architecture’s descent into spectacle-usually at a distance, and sometimes with fireworks? in a snapshot, it is striking, but its sad that is what architecture is being reduced to more and more, while doing what hasnt been done before overshadows any contextual relationship-instead just casts shadows of the entire context…
makes architects appear to be attention seekers more than thoughtful shapers of city life.
Sou, will you fxxk your own city like this?
looks huge!
i didn’t understand how it is possible, isn’t there any existing pictures?
The more one looks and this and thinks about it, the more one likes it. I serves a number of purposes which the other entries did not. In the case of the other entries, you are just waiting in line to go up. Here an experience can be had at grade, in this giant atrium.
1:47 AM Dec 6th
藤本さんの台湾タワー Arch Daily →http://t.co/1y085dqI
3:17 AM Dec 6th
Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal / Sou Fujimoto Architects http://t.co/NkaB7CCS #architecture
3:24 AM Dec 6th
구라대마왕 소우 후지모토, 또 한건. Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal / Sou Fujimoto Architects | ArchDaily http://t.co/wxPJX8QM via @archdaily
4:48 AM Dec 6th
Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal / Sou Fujimoto Architects http://t.co/GL7wjIRo via @archdaily
4:49 AM Dec 6th
Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal / Sou Fujimoto Architects http://t.co/GL7wjIRo via @archdaily
5:33 AM Dec 6th
Cool. Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal / Sou Fujimoto Architects | ArchDaily http://t.co/Cb9CfQEb via @archdaily
5:35 AM Dec 6th
Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal / Sou Fujimoto Architects http://t.co/wpqasUN9
5:57 AM Dec 6th
Surreal and awesome – Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal / Sou Fujimoto Architects | ArchDaily http://t.co/FByM9Pf5 via @archdaily
7:15 AM Dec 6th
Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal / Sou Fujimoto Architects http://t.co/NkaB7CCS #architecture
7:32 AM Dec 6th
Tokyo architect creates world's coolest looking building! http://t.co/fVYtgEoL
6:09 PM Dec 6th
This looks gorgeous from afar, but not so much when you're in it, at least from the renders http://t.co/e2HJxDMK
6:45 PM Dec 6th
RT @ArchDaily: Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal / Sou Fujimoto Architects http://t.co/a9WlAMSY #architecturewhat a surprise
7:22 PM Dec 6th
Wow- love the winning Taiwan Tower design by Sou Fujimoto Architects | a garden in the sky http://t.co/MWTVy2lZ via @archdaily
7:43 PM Dec 6th
Sustainability just took a major hit. http://t.co/82JdMRXU
7:43 PM Dec 6th
Sustainability just took a major hit. http://t.co/vpsDNJzn
9:47 PM Dec 6th
This is being built in Taichung? http://t.co/DHLg7Kg3
10:15 PM Dec 6th
Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal / Sou Fujimoto Architects | ArchDaily http://t.co/X6FwKo9o #surreal @architecture
12:46 AM Dec 7th
Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal / Sou Fujimoto Architects #KENCHIKU http://t.co/q875XYLO
2:08 AM Dec 7th
Cool installation. http://t.co/9mLSww4T
2:38 AM Dec 7th
Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal / Sou Fujimoto Architects http://t.co/NkaB7CCS #architecture
6:06 PM Dec 7th
Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal / Sou Fujimoto Architects | ArchDaily http://t.co/KtFfUlTM via @archdaily
10:07 PM Dec 7th
Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal http://t.co/E7fgxpUW
10:07 PM Dec 7th
Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal http://t.co/FOMndZiY
10:07 PM Dec 7th
Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal http://t.co/BQYvd5ki
12:05 AM Dec 8th
藤本さんのこのデザインは凄いよな(^ ^)- Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal / Sou Fujimoto Architects http://t.co/FhvJJ1zS
3:46 AM Dec 8th
I applaud the sustainable slant, grandeur and the Banyan tree concept – but it lacks the romance of the Eiffel Tower.
http://t.co/ZTGy8aLN
9:41 AM Dec 8th
Tokyo-based architect Sou Fujimoto has been selected as the 1st prize winner for the Taiwan Tower Intl. Competition. http://t.co/EixzeFWD
6:30 PM Dec 9th
蓋出來就有趣了！ Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal / Sou Fujimoto Architects | ArchDaily http://t.co/UVCixaEA via @archdaily
1:31 PM Dec 12th
Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal / Sou Fujimoto Architects http://t.co/NkaB7CCS #architecture
7:23 AM Dec 13th
Sou Fujimoto tower proposal http://t.co/7isDR837
5:45 AM Dec 14th
ディレックきたから、色々聞いてんだけど、この建物すげーね。 http://t.co/bZisLKIt
7:26 PM Dec 14th
Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal / Sou Fujimoto Architects http://t.co/2PhuW8m8
8:34 PM Dec 15th
Sweet! What is this I don't even | Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal / Sou Fujimoto Architects http://t.co/vyejkrAz via @archdaily
12:15 PM Dec 21st
http://t.co/2i8uLfj7 Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal / Sou Fujimoto Architects …
6:00 AM Jan 5th
http://www.archdaily.com/187873/taiwan-tower-first-prize-winning-proposal-sou-fujimoto-architects/
10:43 PM Jan 30th
Winning Proposa Sou Fujimoto Architects won Taiwan Tower First Prize http://t.co/7bkddfXz via @archdaily
7:22 PM Feb 2nd
En fin. El arco, tanto en Taiwán como en México, hubiera lucido majestuoso. (Aquí el proyecto ganador en Taiwán: http://t.co/QMC0NnvG)
7:25 PM Feb 2nd
En fin. El arco, tanto en Taiwán como en México, hubiera lucido majestuoso. (Aquí el proyecto ganador en Taiwán: http://t.co/QMC0NnvG)
7:30 PM Feb 2nd
En fin. El arco, tanto en Taiwán como en México, hubiera lucido majestuoso. (Aquí el proyecto ganador en Taiwán: http://t.co/QMC0NnvG)
7:40 PM Feb 2nd
En fin. El arco, tanto en Taiwán como en México, hubiera lucido majestuoso. (Aquí el proyecto ganador en Taiwán: http://t.co/QMC0NnvG)
7:48 PM Feb 2nd
En fin. El arco, tanto en Taiwán como en México, hubiera lucido majestuoso. (Aquí el proyecto ganador en Taiwán: http://t.co/QMC0NnvG)
8:32 PM Feb 2nd
El majestuoso Arco de Taiwán: http://t.co/urFCK1po) … y nosotros con nuestra pinche suavicrema jedi #pfff
9:35 PM Feb 3rd
Wow. Los bosquejos para la Torre de Taiwán son surrealistas. Imperdible
para arquitectos http://t.co/WzmCHTAc #arquitectura
1:51 AM Feb 4th
En fin. El arco, tanto en Taiwán como en México, hubiera lucido majestuoso. (Aquí el proyecto ganador en Taiwán: http://t.co/QMC0NnvG)
10:10 PM Feb 4th
Taiwan Tower First Prize Winning Proposal / Sou Fujimoto Architects | ArchDaily http://t.co/A2N9NW6d via @archdaily
5:57 PM Mar 24th
@.@! http://t.co/0M5lZZoq @plethoraapp
1:57 PM Apr 1st
Taiwan's proposed very own Eiffel Tower? http://t.co/vjre3Icq #architecture
12:54 AM Apr 13th
Le virtuel… Y-a que ca de vrai ;) http://t.co/tJ1bdI8a @plethoraapp