mvrdv unveils first residential project for taiwan
In Taiwan‘s capital of Taipei, a new addition by MVRDV is quietly reshaping the relationship between architecture and regulation. Dubbed Out of the Box, the 25-story residential tower reads like a catalogue of outdoor spaces over the neighborhood of Tianmu. Each is extruded, adjusted, and fitted within the boundaries of building code, yet rendered with a sense of freedom. Sitting prominently along Zhongshan North Road, the building responds to both the visibility of its site and the dramatic backdrop of Yangmingshan National Park.
Rather than presenting a monolithic form, the structure opens outward. Its marble facade is punctuated by a mix of loggias, balconies, bay windows, and covered terraces. These projecting volumes pull parts of the building toward the skyline of Taipei, forming a play of shadows and transparencies that soften the mass and animate the streetscape below.
MVRDV designs a residential ‘Out of the Box’ tower for Taipei’s Tianmu neighborhood | visualizations © MVRDV
out of the box: a shifting tower over taipei
Commissioned by Win Sing Development Company, MVRDV’s tower will act as an urban marker within the predominantly mid-rise fabric of Taipei, Taiwan. While the internal layout is structured around a modest number of repeatable apartment types, the architects use Taiwan’s complex zoning and outdoor space regulations as an invitation rather than a constraint. Through careful cross-referencing, the team generated a series of volumetric conditions that transform what would otherwise be uniform plans into a diverse, flexible set of homes.
The process was shaped by digital scripting tools, which allowed for the precise placement of boxes based on environmental data like sun exposure. What results is a tower that shifts across its height, with no two apartments quite alike. Despite their individuality, each of the 93 units shares the benefit of access to open air and framed views, reinforcing the idea that variability and efficiency can work in tandem.
The outward thrust of the loggias and terraces serves both a spatial and visual function. As Winy Maas, founding partner at MVRDV, explains, the tower was designed with the notion of observation at its core. The protruding boxes, some extending six meters in depth, act as elevated vantage points from which residents can take in the mountains and city below. This outward gesture also lends the building a distinctive silhouette from the street, where it appears almost kinetic in form.
the marble facade is shaped by a system of projecting boxes that create outdoor spaces
Architecture as Lookout and Landmark
With the surrounding buildings of Taipei remaining relatively low in scale, MVRDV’s tower both rises above its neighbors and interacts with them. From the ground, the layering of the facade gives the impression of movement, a rhythm dictated by the boxes that emerge and recede in response to sun paths and view corridors.
Beyond the tower itself, MVRDV has introduced a smaller companion structure to upgrade the retail presence along Zhongshan Road. Its facade continues the lines of its neighbors but integrates a grid-like logic that relates back to the tower, creating visual consistency without mimicry. Existing shop owners will be accommodated within the new volume, ensuring continuity of street life and community presence.
At the base of the tower, landscaping is used to mediate between private and public domains. A swimming pool and community park create pockets of greenery that soften the transition from the sidewalk to the residences. The green roof terrace above, accessible to residents, completes this layered outdoor strategy.
each box serves a distinct function such as a loggia, balcony, or extended interior room
This project marks MVRDV’s first foray into residential development in Taiwan. Its previous efforts in the country, including the Tainan Spring urban renewal and the forthcoming Sun Rock project for Taipower (see designboom’s coverage here), reflect a growing familiarity with the island’s environmental and regulatory landscape. In each case, the firm has demonstrated a willingness to engage with the specificities of place — whether in the reuse of industrial sites or in maximizing the spatial possibilities of residential architecture.
project info:
name: Out of the Box
location: Tianmu, Taipei, Taiwan
developer: Win Sing Development Company
visualizations: © MVRDV
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