Agora tower by vincent callebaut architectures, Taipei, Taiwan On the last and biggest parcel of land available for residential use in Taipei city, vincent callebaut ‘s twisting, foliage-filled ‘agora tower’ will preside over the rest of the urban xinyin district. the architect, known for his distinct eco-vision, has designed a high-density space that aims at limiting the ecologic footprint of its inhabitants by forging a symbiotic relationship between the urban dweller and nature. tall planted balconies of suspended orchards, organic vegetable gardens and and medicinal greenery will take root in the high-performance building. in true cradle-to-cradle fashion, even the construction process transforms itself; industrial waste will be returned as a ‘technical nutrient’ to beindefinitely recycled. the helicoidal towers appropriate their form from the structure of DNA, conceptually speaking to the building blocks of life, as well as dynamism and twinning. four types of housing units form a full level allowing their twisting forms to optimize space for open-air hanging gardens. the angled apartments additionally offer exceptional views of the bustling city by multiplying the transversal views of the overall east-west rhomboidal pyramid. corbelled floors provide structure and privacy. street views show the twisted form stepped levels optimize sunlight for gardens and greenery convex and concave curves make up the serpentine tower, surrounded by a luxuriant forest and interjected by a pedestrian square and aquatic glade. a central circular light well remains fixed and provides ample illumination and ventilation tothe deepest levels of the architecture, namely the car park and swimming pool. the cylindrical void organizes the twisting ‘green core’, a vertical garden and farm cultivated by the building tenants. a looping band of circulation, comprised of 2 staircases, 4 high speed elevators and 1 car elevator, creates an entry foyer for each unit. photo-voltaic cells, rainwater filtration systems and phyto-depuration structures complement the morphology of the landscaped balconies. ascending terraces are open air and enjoy maximum exposure to sunlight, while descending balconies are shielded by the superior level and create optimal spaces for aromatic gardens. the realization of this building is a testament to the reality that landscape can rebuild itself on the city and that ecologic resilience need not be an abstraction of far-fetched solutions. The luxurious residences are accompanied by a lush park and plaza Interior view of the pool images Curved programming characterizes the vertical ‘green core’ in the main entry lobby A below-grade care park is well lit and ventilated with the glazed design images
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 08:28:02 +0000