Inspired by thegeometric patterns of Taiwanese Hen Cages and the structural shells of luxuryracing yachts, the building takes shape in a dynamic gradient form thattransitions from exo-skin to exo-skeleton in response to programmatic contentas well as performative requirements. Thus, what appears to be formalexpression, is actually “informed form” which responds to the integrationof weather, urban context, program, circulation, and sustainability throughintegrated design responses that inform the building orientation, spatiallayout, façade design, and choice of material and structural system.

The building programis divided into three primary experience groups and cyclical sequences. These three groups share programmatic overlaps and transitions which allowexchange between groups.

Rather than consider theprogrammatic arrangement as the organization of platonic programmatic elements,we have considered the program as a self-organizing system of agents ofprogrammatic pixels which aggregate based upon weighted connections tospecified anchor programs. Starting with the typical bubble diagram todefine relationships, the placement of specific anchor programs re-distributesthe transitional programs into gradient fields of varying densities anddistributions of pixels rather than hermetic zones with defined boundaries andthresholds.

Status:
Competition Entry

Client:
Port Of Keelung
Taiwan International Ports Corporation, Ltd.

Location:
Keelung, Taiwan

Program:
International Passenger and Cargo Cruise Terminal, Office Tower, Retail + Amenities

Area:
140,000sqm

Design Team:
Synthesis Design + Architecture (Architect)
Buro Happold (Structural, MEP, Facades, Environmental)
OneView CG (Vizualisation)

Project Credits:
Alvin Huang (Design Principal), David O. Wolthers (Project Architect), Filipa Valente, Chia-ching Yang, Joey Sarafian, Behnaz Farahi, Mo Harmon