21 Century Oasis v Taichung by Sou Fujimoto

Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto is primarily known for his unconventional approach to small family houses. However, in mid-November, he succeeded (together with Fei & Cheng Associates) in a large international competition "21 Century Oasis" in the multi-million-dollar Taiwanese metropolis Taichung. The winning project draws inspiration from the Banyan fig tree, characterized by its tangled aerial roots. Fujimoto's design features a 300-meter-high structure made of wooden rods with a diameter of 80 millimeters intertwined into spirals, ultimately creating a delicately appearing yet sturdy tower. The rooftop garden hovers like a green island above the urban noise; in addition to the garden, the platform also includes a multi-story entrance lobby, exhibition spaces, and a café with panoramic views of the lower landscape. Within the three-hundred-meter cloud, there is also a comprehensive system for regenerative energy supply: utilization of rainwater, installation of solar panels and water heating panels, photovoltaic cells, heat pumps, and wind turbines, as well as natural ventilation of the central conical atrium based on the chimney effect. Another important idea typical for Fujimoto is the merging of indoor and outdoor spaces into a kind of hybrid without firmly established boundaries between the building and public space. The lightweight facade enhances the overall effect of the structure. The tower is equipped with an LED system that illuminates the '300-meter cloud' over Taichung even at night.