Residential building in Zhishan: archetypal forms and precious materials

In the part of Taipei that still preserves the human dimension of community, the residential building in Zhishan encloses spaces characterized by sober and elegant luxury, in a finely symbolic architecture

Timeless Aesthetics and Sophisticated Materiality

In the urban area of Tianmu, in the Shilin district of Taipei, lies the Zhishan neighborhood. Immersed in the historically international atmosphere of the area, a mix of lush vegetation, community values, bold contemporary architecture, and fascinating 1970s arcade skyscrapers make up the setting for the residential building designed by Neri&Hu Design and Research Office. In the typical language of the studio's architectural projects, the residence expresses itself in the urban landscape with a timeless aesthetic and sophisticated materiality

A delicate and vital balance of forms

The residential building in Zhishan interfaces with a city that still holds meaning, pulsating to communicate with those who inhabit it, as the architects celebrate by quoting Italo Calvino in his "Invisible Cities": "The city is redundant: it repeats so that something remains impressed in the mind. Memory is redundant: it repeats the signs so that the city can begin to exist." Thus, this architecture also repeats archetypal signs of full and empty, masculine and feminine, historical and modern, cool and warm, rational and expressive, drawing a delicate and vital balance of forms

Architectural composition with contrasts

To the north, the building's approach to the street is square and robust, while on the south side the architectural composition softens with its sawtooth cuts. The facade is harmoniously designed by the interweaving of beams and pillars clad in gray stone that forms the frame into which the parapets with inverted catenary arches in copper-colored metal are inserted. These, inspired by the traditional "flower grid screens" of windows in old buildings in Taiwan, bring the element of lightness in contrast to the stone

The rich program of interior spaces

The interior spaces are designed with the same archetypal language in the elegant abundance of precious materials such as warm terrazzo slabs, the black walnut of the furnishings, and the bronzes of the details and the customized lighting installation. The rich program includes a hall and lounge area on the ground floor overlooking the library on the first floor through large arches. In the upper levels of the building, there is a gym and, outside amidst lush vegetation, a kitchenette, an event area, social corners, a yoga platform, and a pet area

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neri&hu architects

322 Jiao Zhou Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai City, China 200071