Mirrored facades have become a popular architectural styling. From Doug Atiken's recent installation work for Desert X in Palm Springs to Snøhetta's 7th Room treehouse, mirrored architecture effectively blends the building into its surroundings while reflecting the world back upon the viewer. B+P... View full entry
After his firm Vincent Callebaut Architectures was awarded the bid to create the building in 2010, Callebaut decided to erect a structure that was "like an inhabited tree," that could create a green urban landmark for the city with a minimal carbon footprint.
Slated for a completion in September 2017, the tower will stand 20 stories tall with a 90 degree twist that is achieved with a 4.5 degree turn per floor as the building ascends.
— taiwannews.com.tw
Vincent Callebaut, the Belgian architect known for audacious, ecologically-minded design proposals now has a project under construction in Taipei. We previously featured Callebaut's "LILYPAD, A Floating Ecopolis for Ecological Refugees" in 2008.Related on Archinect:Architecture Dean Poh says... View full entry
Three Taiwanese construction company executives have been detained on charges of professional negligence resulting in death following the collapse of an apartment building that killed dozens.
The district prosecutor's office in the city of Tainan said [...] that Lin Ming-hui and architects Chang Kui-an and Cheng Chin-kui were suspected of having overseen shoddy construction of the 17-story Weiguan Golden Dragon building, which crashed onto its side following an earthquake Saturday.
— america.aljazeera.com
Previously in the Archinect news: Taiwan earthquake: tin cans found as fillers may have caused high-rise to collapse View full entry
Taiwan's Government has ordered an investigation into the collapse of a high-rise building in an earthquake after it emerged tin cans had been used in its construction.
Rescue workers found the cans as they searched for survivors two days after the 6.4-magnitude earthquake that has killed at least 37 people.
— independent.co.uk
However, an engineer speaking to Taiwanese TV news channel CNA explained how using cans in construction was not necessarily illegal: “For such purposes in construction, it was not illegal prior to September 1999, but since then styrofoam and formwork boards have been used instead.”Related... View full entry
Zaha Hadid Architects has been announced as the winner of the Danjiang Bridge competition. Sited at the mouth of the Tamsui River, the bridge will provide a critical link between several highways on Taiwan's northern coast.The Danjiang Bridge is intended to bring economic growth to Taipei's Port... View full entry
Like all supertall skyscrapers, Tapei 101 has a mechanism inside to help stabilize itself in high winds. [...]
At 6:59 am, in the winds of Typhoon Soudelor, the damper moved by a full meter from its center position, farther than it has ever moved in the building's decade history. [...]
Soudelor brought sustained winds of 100 mph, with at least one confirmed gust of 145 mph .
— popularmechanics.com
Greater Taichung Mayor Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) has temporarily pulled the plug on the ambitious Taiwan Tower project, citing concerns over safety and its costs, which have ballooned from NT$8 billion (US$253.5 million) to NT$15 billion. [...]
Designed by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto, who won an international competition in 2011 to draw up plans for the building, Taiwan Tower’s ornate steel structure was inspired by the trunk of a banyan tree.
— taipeitimes.com
Since OMA won the competition in 2009, the Taipei Performing Arts Center in Taiwan is gradually coming to life with the recent celebration of its topping out ceremony. OMA design team leaders Rem Koolhaas and David Gianotten, Kris Yao and Willy Yu of KRIS YAO | ARTECH, Taipei city mayor Hau Lung-pin, and other city government representatives took part in the event. — bustler.net
According to OMA, the Center's three theaters are meant to encourage experimental theater productions, while the Public Loop invites public engagement from both inside and outside the Center.Here's a glimpse of the project:More photos and details on Bustler.Previously: OMA to Build Taipei... View full entry
Friday, August 1Gas Pipelines Explode in Taiwan City Killing 24: The cause of the propene pipeline explosion is still unknown, but officials noticed irregularities in the pipe's flow hours beforehand, without investigating further.Jacko's Neverland Ranch is up for sale at $50-75M: Michael... View full entry
Multiple gas pipeline explosions have killed 24 people and injured 257 others in Taiwan's second city, emergency officials said. Witnesses said Thursday's blast in Kaohsiung sent flames shooting 15 storeys into the air, and entire blocks, packed with shops and apartment buildings, were set ablaze [...] The director of the Central Disaster Emergency Operation Centre, said the leaking gas had been identified as propene, meaning that the resulting fires could not be extinguished by water. — Al Jazeera
The two-stage Port of Kinmen Passenger Service Center International Competition in Taiwan has come to a close. Since our last update in January, five star-studded firms — who worked with local architects — were in the final round to become the master architect to design a new multi-functional terminal facility and expansion for the Port of Kinmen. — bustler.net
At the end of the competition, the jury awarded three prize winners and two honorable mentions:1ST PRIZE: Junya Ishigami + Associates / Junya Ishigami (Japan) with Bio Architecture Formosana Architecture / Ching-Hwa Chang (Taiwan)2ND PRIZE: Tom Wiscombe Architecture, Inc / Thomas Wiscombe (USA)... View full entry
As a follow up to our latest update on the Port of Kinmen Passenger Service Center International Competition in Kinmen, Taiwan, KAMJZ from Poland shared with us their "Maritime & Bike Terminal" entry.
The team's proposal changes up the port terminal structure into a hybrid complex that links water system transportation and good ol' biking.
— bustler.net
Find more details on Bustler. View full entry
Five firms -- which include some notable names -- are still in the running for the Port of Kinmen Passenger Service Center International Competition.
Hosted by Taiwan's Kinmen County Government, the winner will be master architect of a two-phase project that consists of a new multi-functional terminal facility and expansion for the Port of Kinmen.
— bustler.net
The Stage II finalists are:Josep Mias Gifre (Spain)Lorcan O'Herlihy Architects / Lorcan O'Herlihy (USA)Junya Ishigami + Associates (Japan)Tom Wiscombe Architecture, Inc. / Thomas W. Wiscombe (USA)Miralles Tagliabue EMBT SLP / Benedetta Tagliabue (Spain)Following the Stage II submissions deadline... View full entry
In our last update, Reiser + Umemoto celebrated the groundbreaking of the Kaohsiung Port Terminal in Kaohsiung, Taiwan this past November.
Although there aren't any construction photos in the meantime, you can get a better look of the yet-to-be-built terminal with plenty of awesome images we recently received from the firm.
— bustler.net
For more, head over to Bustler. Images courtesy of Reiser + Umemoto. View full entry
The City of Taipei successfully landed the bid — after being the only city to do so — in becoming the next designated city for World Design Capital 2016. The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) made the official announcement during its 28th General Assembly on Monday, Nov. 18.
Previous cities who received the appointment include Torino (2008), Seoul (2010), Helsinki (2012) and the upcoming WDC in Cape Town (2014).
— bustler.net
Previously: City of Taipei takes the first hurdle towards becoming the next World Design Capital in 2016 View full entry
