East and West Urban Renewal Housing Project

Although housing is the building type with the largest volume in cities, its design in general lacks monumentality and urban scale even with large projects due to the repetitiveness of residential units.

The site faces 40 meter wide Song-Jian Road, a gateway location in proximity of highway entry into Taipei and Song-Shan airport. JUT, the developer planned for two building for this long site (approximately 95m by 35m). The Client thus have KSA and Claus En Kaan Architects to design one building each based on the same concept while their designs may induce dialogue and monumental scale.

The concept both firms are based on include: 1. Figure and Ground: the two may compliment and exchangable, like white and black swans on the left, white angel and black bats on the right, depending on viewer's choice. 2. Totem is Sing: Totem 1 (a mural by Capogrossi on an ocean liner Michelangelo, an extreme expression of decorative art) , Totem 2 ( totem on ancient bronze utensil, an extreme expression of applied art).

Detail design is carried out by KSA, who chose beige stone with dark stone and face brick to complement a "Figure Ground" contrast, which creates sculptural effect and monumental scale in its urban context. The patterns of two totems also provide a more lively expressions and dialogue.

KSA also carried out interior public spaces design. The theme of East and West, classical and modern, contrast of sculptural and ordinary scales, are also realized through the combination of pure materiality and decorativeness. 

Client

JUT Development Corporation

Location

Taipei City

Floor Height

18 stories above ground, 6 floors below ground

Total Floor Area

25000㎡

Material / Structure

RC Structure

Design Year

2007

Completion Year

2015

Design Concept