Dutch architecture firm MVRDV has received construction permission for 'The Island,' an innovative 21-story residential tower in Taichung, Taiwan, that will feature a distinctive curved design and extensive vertical gardens. The project represents a bold departure from the city's predominantly rectangular commercial buildings, introducing an organically-shaped facade that prioritizes green living and community interaction in Taiwan's central urban landscape.
Located at the strategic intersection of Taichung's North and Beitun districts, The Island is designed as a dense vertical neighborhood that integrates lush plantings throughout its curved geometry. The tower responds directly to Taichung's progressive livable building regulations, which actively encourage developers to incorporate large outdoor spaces and extensive plantings into their designs. MVRDV has leveraged this regulatory framework to create a building that fosters community engagement through elevated gardens, shared terraces, and a ground-level public area sheltered by mature trees.
The tower's most striking feature is its facade of glimmering ceramic tiles, which creates a mosaic effect using irregular white pieces of varying sizes. The architects employed larger tiles across flat surfaces while applying finer, more detailed patterns in areas where the building's curves become tighter and more pronounced. This adaptive tiling system allows the exterior envelope to smoothly adjust to every bend and curve, creating a continuous, flowing surface that demonstrates MVRDV's commitment to innovative material expression. The soft, organic edges define balconies, windows, and integrated planters throughout the project, establishing a clear visual departure from the rigid, rectilinear buildings that dominate the surrounding cityscape.
The Island will house 76 residential apartments distributed above two floors dedicated to shared amenities and commercial spaces. Residents will have access to five communal balconies strategically distributed across the tower's height, each forming a three-story recess that creates spatial depth while maximizing natural daylight penetration. These communal spaces feature planted terraces that offer panoramic views over Taichung's urban landscape. At the building's peak, a wraparound garden terrace creates a layered green crown that serves as a multi-purpose shared space, encouraging casual social gathering and daily use while providing residents with cooling breezes and expansive city views.
The project's commitment to sustainability extends beyond its living spaces through an ambitious green infrastructure program. The Island incorporates 104 private balconies with integrated planted areas, complemented by 38 standalone facade planters that create a comprehensive vertical garden system. Combined with the building's communal gardens, this green network will showcase a diverse cross-section of plant species carefully selected to reflect the botanical variety found throughout Taichung's broader regional ecosystem. This strategy enhances local biodiversity while ensuring a consistent green presence that becomes an integral part of the building's visual identity from every viewing angle.
Construction of The Island will involve the removal of an existing 13-story structure currently occupying the site, which has become obsolete due to updated seismic safety regulations. In a commitment to sustainable construction practices, MVRDV has outlined a comprehensive plan to reuse materials from the existing building wherever feasible. Stone elements salvaged from the current structure's walls and floors will be incorporated as floor finishes within the new tower, significantly reducing construction waste while connecting the new building to the material history and cultural heritage of its location.
'The design of The Island brings a soft touch in a city full of boxes,' explained Jacob van Rijs, founding partner of MVRDV. 'As with other residential buildings in Taiwan, the building's underlying layout had to follow a fairly standardized and highly efficient approach. The building's character therefore has to come from its details, from the soft curves, from the Gaudí-inspired facade finish, and from the way greenery is integrated as if the building is part of the same organic system.' This philosophy reflects MVRDV's broader approach to urban architecture, which seeks to humanize dense city living through thoughtful design and natural integration.
