Location: Taipei, Taiwan.

Architect: WOHA.

Huaku Sky Garden is a high-rise residential tower located in the Tianmu district of northern Taipei. It breaks away from the traditional Japanese colonial and post-modernist architecture that dominates Taiwan’s apartment buildings. The building is designed as twin towers with a symmetrical, interlinked form and thick columns to meet earthquake and typhoon-proof requirements. The façade is inspired by traditional Chinese joinery and screen designs, with ornamental screens on the slender east and west elevations to ensure privacy and act as a sun shade in the summer months. The interiors are spacious and uncluttered, with no columns, and the double-volume terraces create an outdoor garden quality, giving the apartments a grand view of the mountains. The ground level design includes gardens, green walls, and retail shops that interact with the streetscape, while the rooftop terrace can be used by all residents. Overall, Huaku Sky Garden provides a landmark for the area and a release from the congested city below.

Photo credit: Patrick Bingham-Hall, Flyht Studio.