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Artificial Urban Forest Wins Taiwan Tower Competition

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This extraordinary vision – creating a next nature for the coming century – has won the Taiwan Tower competition, for a community center to be built in Taichung City.

The semi-outdoor interior space generates a dappled light quality as if in a forest glade.

The “21st Century Oasis” is from Japan’s Sou Fujimoto Architects in collaboration with the Taiwanese engineering company, Fei & Cheng Associates.

Reminding city residents of the nature so recently lost, the garden reintroduces the idea of nature into the urban fabric – becoming a symbolic landmark that will be visible from many points throughout the city.

The 21st Century Oasis will be set within a green belt, and become an urban retreat.

A green rooftop ‘island’ will float at its summit, 300 meters above the city, representing the divine isle of Formosa.

Among many sustainable features, it will use rainwater harvesting and recycling to nourish plants at the top.

In addition, solar hot water panels, wind turbines, photovoltaic cells, ground source heat pumps and desiccant air-handling units are also incorporated.

Only a small part of the structure has floors, in the sense of a traditional skyscraper.

But these are enough to serve as a lookout point and citified reconnoitering spot.

Similarly, the lobby occupies only a small part of the structure’s footprint.

The foyer to a museum housed within is partly daylit through the dappled light.

Only the museum itself has artificial light – to preserve the artworks from decay.

By night, the structure’s LED lighting can be lit up to make many different light patterns.

The carbon footprint is less than half that of a typical building, let alone one destined to become a city icon.

Via DesignBoom