|
JUT JADE CASCADE
Taipei City
2011
Along the winding east coast of Taiwan, rocky but lush jungle-encrusted mountains drop precipitously into the Pacific Ocean forming a talus at their base. Waterfalls surge from the talus and mist sheets over sheer vertical drops spilling into the sea. Jade cascade reflects this iconic landscape in the dense urban Zhongshan district of central Taipei City.
This mixed use luxury condominium high rise builds from the street with a granite talus at its base and aspires to the sky with a translucent stone and glass tower. Water sheets over the stone, pooling at ground level, buffering street noise. Apertures in the base expose a quarry-like lobby entrance and entrances to street-level retail.
Jade balconies wrapped in translucent stone and glass act as a second skin. This second skin regulates temperatures and reduces heat gain which, in turn makes the building more energy efficient. The skin directs views to the city and to the surrounding mountains while curtailing views to foreground buildings and establishing a sense of privacy for the residents.
Residents can enter this urban oasis by car though a landscaped passage away from the street. Green walls shroud adjacent buildings creating a private enclave with drop-off and gathering terrace for the residents. At the peak of the mountain is a roof terrace with large granite fragments that serve to partition programmed zones. A pool, green trellises and group seating areas make this roof landscape a lively and flexible space for the residents.
|
