Genuine Minzui Mixed Use Building by Minzui Innovation Co., Ltd. Wins the Bronze A' Design Award in Architecture, Building and Structure Design

The Work

Project

Genuine Minzui Mixed Use Building

Function

Mixed Use Building

Category

Architecture, Building and Structure Design

Discipline

Spatial Design

Industry

Architecture

Colors

Gainsboro, Light Gray, Black, Dim Gray and Dark Slate Gray

Images

5

The Recognition

Laureate

Minzui Innovation Co., Ltd.

Country

Taiwan (China)

Recognition

Bronze A' Design Award

Edition

2024 - 2025

Design ID

#162624

Credits

Team

PO-YEN CHIANG, TING-JUI YEN, SHENG-HSIUNG NIEN

Image Credits

Minzui Innovation co., ltd.

Design Details

Unique Properties

They placed horizontal shading on the western facade with 10 plus 10 glazing to minimize exposure to the sun. As the site is bordered by two parks to the west and north, the design team planned greenery on the east side facade and the top floor. They used in-situ plants to create a three-tiered plan with low, medium, and high levels of greenery to provide residents with a comfortable environment surrounded by greenery on three sides and to enhance biodiversity. On the top floor, a lightbox protrudes like a flame in the daytime and a fire at night, making the building in the border area the warm center of the redevelopment zone.

Inspiration

As the first project in the area and the first work of the construction company, it is intended to mark a cross-generational significance. The design team specializes in transforming deficiencies into features. After analyzing the site's conditions, they found that it had western exposure, remoteness, and proximity to a viaduct, and based their solution on these three points. The design team created a modern exterior that turned the site's shortcomings into features for the project. Moreover, they placed local, multi-layered green planting and installed an intelligent control system to achieve sustainability.

Research

The exterior of the buildings creates a unique living experience with a modern architectural style with strong horizontal visual effects, such as stable materials, asymmetrical yet harmonious volumes, and lighthouse-like roof plans that interpret the character of the firm. The project is a low-density residential development that concentrates its capacity on the right-hand side of the building, with storefronts on the north side. The change in height of the building's massing naturally guides the sound waves from the metro, and the ridge ornamentation echoes the shape of the two buildings.

Challenge

As the first project in the area and the first work of the construction company, the design team paid extra attention to the planning to achieve the significance of the project. They made countless adjustments to the design concepts, exteriors, and floor plan configurations. Particularly in terms of the units, they allowed each floor to enjoy natural light to maximize the advantages of the site's proximity to the two parks. After active discussions with the owner and members of the community, the design team came up with 13 different floor plans in just 2 months and finally selected the best plan that met all the criteria.

Realization and Technology

The building materials used include polymer composite waterproof material, EP tarpaulin, and Canadian food-grade self-healing adhesive, which repairs leaks independently. The color scheme is based on dark and light gray, with glass as an accent. The exterior walls are covered with 1200-degree Celsius kiln-fired tiles specially made for the project, which have low water absorption and are not easily cracked or deformed, allowing for the test of heat increase and cold contraction brought about by weather changes. It is paired with a hard, rough surface granite with a linear texture.

Operation and Interaction

The design team considered the interrelationship between artificial lighting, architecture, and natural environment, and integrated the concept of time into the plan. The change of light and shadow between day and night makes the asymmetrical effect look harmonious and the cyberpunk lighting in the interior more fascinating. The high ceilings and the divineness of the Tyndall effect make light a medium between the occupants and the environment, bringing them closer together.

Project Duration and Location

The project finished in July 2022 in Taiwan.

Specifications

The site is 2069.4 square meters and is zoned for Buildings A and B. Building A has commercial space, offices, and shared facilities on the first floor; residential areas from the 2nd to the 14th floors, with six units on each floor and the layout available in 1 plus 1 to 3 rooms; there is a boxing room and sky garden on the top floor. The Building B is a two-story retail complex of four buildings. The design team investigated the whole area and, conceived buildings with Class VI seismic structural strength, high waterproofing, easy maintenance, and understated tranquility.

Keywords

speed and stability, calmness and introspection, lighthouse of the city, double parks, double MRT, direct access to the airport MRT.