Kaohsiung Social Housing, Southern Taiwan apartments, East Asian property design, Home architecture images
Kaohsiung Social Housing in Taiwan
12 December 2023
Architects: Mecanoo
Location: Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Photos by Ethan Lee
Kaohsiung Social Housing, Taiwan Homes
Mecanoo’s Kaohsiung Vision: Public Engagement Paves the Way for Kaohsiung Social Housing a Pioneering Social Housing Development
In a groundbreaking initiative, Mecanoo, introduces a innovative social housing project in Kaohsiung, marking a significant milestone as the city’s inaugural venture into communal living solutions.
This undertaking not only addresses the pressing need for affordable housing but places a unique emphasis on the role of collective spaces in enhancing the quality of life for its citizens. The housing complex in Kaohsiung hosts 245 units between 25 and 75 m2, designed for a large variety of users, from young couples to families with children, as well as students, the elderly or people with special needs.
A Paradigm shift in Public Participation
Kaohsiung Social Housing, Taiwan
At the heart of Mecanoo’s social housing project lies an unprecedented approach to public participation. Unlike conventional models, this endeavour places the power of decision-making directly into the hands of the future residents.
By adopting a novel and innovative strategy, users will actively define the programs within the collective spaces. This participatory model ensures that the communal areas cater precisely to the needs, preferences, and aspirations of the community.
Sky park
Located between the new green corridor and the existing neighbourhood along the railway, the housing complex will be a kick-off project part of a larger urban redevelopment with mixed-use buildings for the whole area. The triangular plot defines the shape of the two buildings connected by a green canopy around the courtyard, serving as an entrance for the residents. Commercial spaces on the perimeter of the ground floor generate street life and activate the public spaces around the building.
The east building houses most of the apartments while the west tower concentrates on the mixed-use programme, with social facilities and apartments. Distributed over several floors and connected by green terraces, the sky park is a social hub open to the public, bringing residents and the local community together.
Facade
A playful grid of vertical elements and windows creates various rhythms on the facade. The depth between the structure and the exterior walls provides shadow and reduces the solar heat gain inside the apartments. Different from most housing blocks in Taiwan where facade materials are used to cover walls, columns and slabs, Mecanoo’s choice for this social housing is to create a contrast between structure and walls: green and white coloured ceramic tiles are used to infill the structural grid covered in stucco.
The coloured tiles, a typical material largely used in Taiwanese architecture, come together in a playful composition to pattern the visual identity of Kaohsiung Social Housing.
Kaohsiung Social Housing in southern Taiwan – Building Information
Architects: Mecanoo – https://www.mecanoo.nl/
Programme: Residential complex with 245 units (15,840 m2), including 870 m2 of commercial spaces, 4,050 m2 of social facilities (gym, shared kitchen, reading room and outdoor spaces), parking for 133 cars and 279 scooters.
Design: 2016
Realisation: 2018-2023
Client: Urban Development Bureau, Kaohsiung City Government, Taiwan
Local partner: Chao Architects, Kaohsiung
Structural engineer: Supertek, Taipei, Taiwan
Photographer: Ethan Lee
Previously on e-architect:
Kaohsiung Social Housing by Mecanoo
Design: Mecanoo
image courtesy of architects
Southern Taiwan homes designed by Mecanoo
Kaohsiung Social Housing, southern Taiwan mages / information received 121223 from Mecanoo architecten, The Netherlands
Location: Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, eastern Asia
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