Hualien Residences / BIG

Bjarke Ingels Group has unveiled their latest - and certainly greenest - "mountainous" housing project (for previous examples, see: Mountain Dwelling and 8 House). Although still in progress, Hualien Residences, a beach resort housing complex in Taiwan, will consist of green "landscape stripes" that resemble mountains themselves. The project, which incorporates walking paths, underground jogging paths, and an observation point, has already been recognized as a finalist in the 2014 MIPIM awards for its use of design to encourage healthy, active lifestyles for the complex's primarily older residents.

Hualien Residences / BIG - CityscapeHualien Residences / BIG - CityscapeHualien Residences / BIG - FacadeHualien Residences / BIG - Image 5 of 41Hualien Residences / BIG - More Images+ 36

Hualien Residences / BIG - Cityscape
Courtesy of BIG

From the Architect. TLDC, a prominent land developer based in Taipei, has recently obtained license to turn what used to be an industrial and factory region into a world class beach resort. The site has great potential for spectacular views as it is located prominently against the coast and near the intersection of two river deltas. Taiwan's spine of mountains can be seen to the west while the ocean is to the east; Hualien city is to the north. 

Hualien Residences / BIG - Image 5 of 41
Courtesy of BIG

For the resort masterplan, a language of green landscape stripes create a mountain terrain of commercial and residential program that echo the natural mountains in distance. The stripes run east-west to frame the best views while also becoming an optimal shading system for Taiwan's hot and humid tropical climate. Low-angle, high-glare morning and evening sun is effortlessly blocked by the stripes while favorable north-south light is allowed into the units. Green roofs further mitigate heat gain and combined with the striping create a low energy masterplan.

Hualien Residences / BIG - Windows, Facade
Courtesy of BIG
  • Architects

  • Location

    Huágōng 1st Road, Jian Township, Hualien County, Taiwan (ROC) 973
  • Architect in Charge

    Bjarke Ingels, Jakob Lange
  • Project Director

    André Schmidt
  • Project Design Architect

    Cat Huang
  • Project Architect

    Min Ter Lim
  • Design Team

    Anu Leinonen, Eric Li, Andrew Lo, Camila Luise de Andrade Stadler, Hsiao Rou Huang, Junjie Yan, Song He, Christin Svensson, Eivor Davidsen, Chris Beaudin, Eduardo Camarena, Ambra Chiesa, Gwendoline Eveillard, Agnieszka Kwiecien, Andreas Mullertz, Johanna Nenander, Alberto Herzog Ruiz de Alegri, Richard John Seymour, Ying zhang, Dominik Mrozinski, Horia Spirescu, Lola Conte, Laura Wätte, Mathias Bank, Kasper Reimer Hansen, Jinho Lee
  • Collaborators

    RJ Wu, Arup, Glessner Group
  • Area

    120000.0 m2
  • Project Year

    2009
  • Photographs

    Courtesy of BIG
  • Architects

Project gallery

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Project location

Address:Huágōng 1st Road, Jian Township, Hualien County, Taiwan (ROC) 973

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: Vanessa Quirk. "Hualien Residences / BIG" 07 Apr 2014. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/493754/hualien-residences-big-s-most-mountainous-housing-project-yet> ISSN 0719-8884

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