What better way to create a world class beach resort flanked by sea, sun and a view of mountains in the distance, than to create your very own range of mountains.
This is the approach of the architects at Bjarke Ingels Group for a new development in Taiwan called ‘The Hualien Residences’. The beach resort housing complex is a dynamic and seemingly complex idea that plays on space and volumes, height and flow, while considering solar orientation and the precious views that the site offers.
Most prominent in the design would be the green “landscape stripes” that offer not just a green roof but a unique character to the complex that further cements the idea of a man made mountain range covered in vegetation. The stripes run along and east-west orientation, shielding residents and users from the direct sunlight of Taiwan’s tropical climate while offering some of the best views of the surrounding vista. Daylighting into the units would then be via the more favourable north-south orientation. They, of course, also offer practical and functional amenity to the structure(s) with regards to thermal insulation and mitigating heat gain, air quality and landscaping that would be of great value to both the residential and commercial components of the project. This in essence creates a low energy masterplan, which is great news for the interior spaces, as they’ll have their fair share of cool sea breezes. The form of the structure also creates very dynamic, well lit and well ventilated rooms and volumes within which to sleep, eat, interact and relax. The complex also features a great number of walking paths as well as what are claimed to be “underground jogging paths” to promote healthy and active living. The combination of all the elements offers a very unique experience for the adventurer in everyone, as you have the chance to stroll between valleys and scale over mountains.
