The Agora Tower - Taipie Taiwan

On the last and biggest parcel of land available for residential use in taipei city, vincent callebaut 's twisting, foliage-filled 'agora tower' will preside over the rest of the urban xinyin district. the architect, known for his distinct eco-vision, has designed a high-density space that aims at limiting the ecologic footprint of its inhabitants by forging a symbiotic relationship between the urban dweller and nature. tall planted balconies of suspended orchards, organic vegetable gardens and and medicinal greenery will take root in the high-performance building. in true cradle-to-cradle fashion, even the construction process transforms itself; industrial waste will be returned as a 'technical nutrient' to be indefinitely recycled. the helicoidal towers appropriate their form from the structure of DNA, conceptually speaking to the building blocks of life, as well as dynamism and twinning. four types of housing units form a full level allowing their twisting forms to optimize space for open-air hanging gardens. the angled apartments additionally offer exceptional views of the bustling city by multiplying the transversal views of the overall east-west rhomboidal pyramid. corbelled floors provide structure and privacy.

Project Info:


Type: competition, first prize winner in november 2010
    Client: bes engineering corporation, taipeicontract location: xinyin district, taipei city, taiwan
    Program: 40 luxurious apartments + facilities
    Surface area: 42.335.34 square meters
    Delivery: 2016
    Current phase: construction documents – below grade under construction green certification: LEED gold
    international design architect: vincent callebaut architectures, sarl paris
    Local architect: lkp design, taipei
    Local structure engineering: king le chang & associates, taipei
    Local mep engineering: sine & associates, taipei international interior architect: wilson & associates (wa),    los angeles
    International landscape architect: swa, sausalito, san francisco
    Local landscape architect: horizon & atmosphere (h&a), taipei
    International lighting designer: l'observatoire international, new york
    Local lighting designer: unolai design, taipei
    Green consultant: enertek, taipei
    Vca’s team: emilie diers, frederique beck, jiao yang, florence mauny, volker erlich, philippe steels, marco conti sikic, benoit patterlini, maguy delrieu, vincent callebaut
    Model maker: Patrick Laurent.